By Dan Fletcher and Paul Takahashi The Daily Northwestern
An ASG resolution asking the university to restore in-room laptop support failed to pass after a 45-minute debate Wednesday night.
The resolution asked Northwestern University Information Technology to supplement the "Laptop ER" service with in-room support for students living on campus. It failed after a 15-15 tie vote because it did not have a majority.
Laptop ER is a NUIT program that allows students living both on and off campus to "drop in" for computer help at three locations at specific times. Before fall 2005, when the drop-in option was added, students who needed computer support could only call a Residential Consultant to their rooms. In October 2006, NUIT cut in-room service, leaving only the Laptop ER, except for students with desktops.
"If you need help, you will get help," said Weinberg sophomore Matt Gruhn, an NUIT representative and ResCon. He said the Laptop ER program offers students quicker service than an in-room option.
Two former ResCons, the authors of the resolution, argued cost-cutting measures contributed to NUIT's decision to discontinue in-room support for laptop users.
"Laptop ER should augment the in-room support," said Jay Zeschin, a McCormick senior.
Former Daily Public Editor David Spett said an in-room option was important to students.
"I think it's corny to say, but we use computers in all parts of our life here, both socially and academically," said Spett, a Medill junior. "But we all know computers aren't always reliable."
Gruhn said Laptop ER offers guaranteed working hours for the ResCons.
"Regardless of whether anyone shows up for help, the ResCons get paid," he said.
Offering support at designated locations is a way for NUIT to control liability for damage in residents' rooms and makes it easier for ResCons to coordinate with users, Gruhn said.
"ResCons don't have keys to dorms. They have to call users on their own cell phones, using their own minutes," Gruhn said.
The two sides disagreed on the reason that requests for ResCon support have decreased since NUIT switched to the Laptop ER program.
"Users are now more intelligent and are now able to fix their own computer problems," said Gruhn. He said the shrinking number of students helped by ResCons prompted NUIT to discontinue the in-room service.
Zeschin said he was disappointed that the resolution failed.
"I hope that we at least raised awareness of the issue," he said.
The Senate also elected a new clerk and a new parliamentarian. Jesse Garfinkel, a Weinberg freshman, ran unopposed for the clerk position. Sarah Kurtz, a Medill junior, beat out three other candidates for the parliamentarian spot.
Reach Dan Fletcher at danfletcher@northwestern.edu and Paul Takahashi at ptakahashi@northwestern.edu.
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