ARHS discusses future of computer consultants

The Association of Residence Hall Students will find out what a difference a week makes when they meet to discuss what action they will take about the proposed Resident Computer Consultants on Wednesday night.

RCCs are available to assist students with computers in their rooms and with any problems they might have. RCCs, who live in the dorms, receive free rooms as a stipend for the ten hours a week they are required to work throughout the semester.

A pilot program already exists in East Halls. According to a survey that was attached to the Residence Life Quality of Life Survey, 92 percent of students living there like the service and would like to see it continue, said Kathy Mayberry, Center for Academic Computing Manager of User Services.

"There was a lot of concern initially (in East Halls). But it turned out to be one of the most effective programs (the Office of) Housing and Food Services could have put on," said East Halls Residence Association President Jason Bowman.

Mayberry addressed ARHS during its open student forum last night to answer any questions representatives might have. ARHS considers itself more educated than they did last week when the issue was first raised in a closed emergency informational meeting.

However, concerns still existed. The question of the cost of the program to students has remained an issue.

"I really don't know if your students would go for it if they had to pay for it," Beth Rosevear, public relations committee chair, said to Bowman.

Because all on-campus students may have to pay for the service, representatives said they were not comfortable making students who would never use it to pay.

"I assume you have other fees for things you don't use either," Mayberry said.

Mayberry did not know how much the cost would be to students, but she said students in Nittany Apartments would not have to pay because RCCs would not live in that area.

Although Bowman said he will not be able to attend Wednesday's meeting, he said he was concerned and disgusted with the possibility that ARHS may try to order housing and food services to change a program it has been working on for two years.

"If housing and CAC didn't think this program would succeed, they wouldn't have put in a budget," Bowman said. "We don't have all the information."