In the near future, Gerry Santoro predicts the world will be composed of two groups of people -- those who know how to use computers and those who don't. The ones who don't know how to use them will be at the mercy of the first group.

"Just about every profession, from law to medicine to business, requires computers now," said Santoro, an affiliate assistant professor of speech communication. "It's very important for all students to familiarize themselves with computers."

The University offers seminars and classes to help students who are unfamiliar with computers and want to become connected to the computer age.

Although some seminars are popular, many suffer from low turnout, said J. Gary Augustson, executive director of computer and information systems.

"We have trouble getting students to come to many of the seminars," Augustson said. "There are usually a lot of empty seats."

To help students become more computer literate, Undergraduate Student Government President Mike King would like to have an introduction to computers seminar available to every freshman and managed through the dorms.

The Center for Academic Computing currently offers seminars on subjects ranging from how to use the Macintosh to the intricacies of navigating the Internet, said Jim Kerlin, deputy director of the CAC.

The CAC schedules the seminars throughout the academic year, with seminars on a specific topic usually scheduled three times per semester, Kerlin said.

While the seminars are free, the popular ones, such as the Internet seminar, require students to register at the CAC help desk in 12 Willard. Schedules listing the time and place of each seminar are available at the help desks of all campus computer labs, Kerlin said.

Students who want a more structured atmosphere can take computer classes. Santoro teaches Liberal Arts 283 -- Computer Applications in the Liberal Arts, an introductory computer course offered through the College of the Liberal Arts. It is one of several courses offered each semester to students unfamiliar with computers.

No previous computer experience is required for LA 283, Santoro said.

"The course focuses on making the computer a little less mystical," Santoro said. "We familiarize students with the computer's components, and teach them how to use word-processing programs, spreadsheets, databases, Gopher and E-mail."

Students learn about the capabilities and advantages offered by spreadsheet and database software, rather than in-depth programming, Santoro said.

The Department of Computer Science and Engineering also offers introductory computer courses, Department Head Jerry Lambert said.

Jason Caporrino is taking Computer Science 100 -- Computer Fundamentals, which teaches the basics of using a computer.

"It's an excellent way to get acquainted with computers," said Caporrino (senior-economics).

Similar in course content to LA 283, CMPSCI 100 is designed primarily for students in nontechnical fields such as liberal arts and requires no previous computer experience, Lambert said.

"Students don't even need to know how to type, thanks to the point-and-click capabilities offered by the mouse," Lambert said.

Students in more technical fields, such as business and the sciences, can take Computer Science 203 -- Business Programming Applications, Lambert said. Although the course also assumes no prior computer experience, it offers in-depth training in computer languages such as TurboPascal and Minitab, as well as computer basics, Lambert said.