A blue-and-white ribbon, waiting to be cut, spanned the door of the University's newest microcomputer lab in Pollock Library before the lab's official opening yesterday.

A crowd of about 30 applauded Nancy M. Cline, dean of the University Libraries, and J. Gary Augustson, executive director of Computer Information Systems who cut the taut ribbon. Laughter broke out after the scissors failed to cut through the material on the first try and Cline said, "Budget cutting is easier than this!"

The new lab was funded by the Center for Academic Computing and the University Libraries and is the third lab to open during the 1990-1991 school year. State budget cuts to the University did not affect the lab since it was planned and funded beforehand, said Jim Kerlin, deputy director of the Center for Academic Computing.

Augustson said he and Cline had been working on opening the lab for a long time and were very pleased to see it finally happen.

"This is a really wonderful occasion," Cline said. "It represents a continued partnership between the computer department and the library to provide clearly necessary resources to the students."

Despite the budget cuts, the University indicated its commitment to students by opening the new labs upon their demand, Augustson said. He said the new lab holds 30 Macintosh II SIs and is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The Macintoshes placed in the lab are of Apple Computer's newest technology, said Russell Vaught, director of the Center for Academic Computing.

Cline said the newer model was chosen because in the future students will be able to retrieve photographic images as well as electronically stored journals through the new computers.

The cost per computer station was estimated at between $6,000 and $8,000, said Carl Knowlton, manager of Distribution Operations.

"That might sound like a lot for each station but you have to consider the renovation costs and the cost for the chairs and desks and other necessities," Knowlton said.

Even though the lab was not officially open, students were allowed to use it earlier this week. At 1 Tuesday morning the lab was full and people were waiting in line to get in, said Charles Auker, assistant director of Computer Operations.

Auker said he thinks this indicates a continued necessity for expanded microcomputer labs.

Even during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, students were busily typing in the new lab and said it is a welcomed alternative.

"The lab has very convenient hours and a great location," said John Lee (senior-accounting). "It's inside the library which is good because I'm usually at the library a lot."

Michele DiPietro (junior-elementary education) said it was her second time using the lab.

"I like this lab a lot, especially the atmosphere. It's really nice to work in here," she said.

Cristina Thomas (senior-history) said she thinks the computers in the lab are better than in other labs.

"The screens are a lot bigger and they have color," she said. "I think I will be using this lab more often because there's so much more elbow room and it's so comfortable."

Rob Cooper, project manager at the Office of Physical Plant, also said he was pleased with the construction and liked the finished product.

Kerlin said more labs will open in the future.

"I think this is just another step in our efforts to provide more computing facilities for the students, and we will continue to work for more," he said.