Our Take
August 28, 2007 by The Red and Black Archives
Filed under Opinions
Thrifty technology
New program from EITS offers huge discount for University students
We all know the feeling.
After dropping more than $1,000 for a shiny new laptop, you realize you still need Microsoft Office to fully function, and that’s another $100 just for the Home and Student Edition.
Then Microsoft unveils Windows Vista a month later, and you’re out at least another $100 if you don’t want to fall behind the times.
Being a student of the 21st century is expensive, but one University department thankfully has our backs.
Enterprise Information Technology Services, the oft-forgotten folks behind OASIS, MyUGA and the University homepage, is now offering students, faculty and staff Adobe and Microsoft software at discounts of up to 75 percent as part of a new program called eMSD.
We’re guessing EITS doesn’t get too much acclaim for its behind-the-scenes work, so we’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all that you do, both on a day-to-day basis and especially for this recent accomplishment.
You must truly have students’ best interests at heart, which brings us to an obvious question: why wasn’t Student Government Association involved in this initiative?
eMSD is a program with the ability to benefit everyone who is in the market for a new computer at some point during his or her tenure at the University. Given the current rate at which technology is rendered obsolete, includes pretty much the entire student body.
Doesn’t that sound like the kind of accomplishment SGA should’ve had a hand in, assuming they really are hard at work on our behalf? Which leads us to our last question: will SGA try to take credit for eMSD?
That remains to be seen. Until then, in EITS we trust.
Let’s get physical
As the Gym Dogs move to Stegemen, cardio and aerobics space increases
Do crowded lines cause you to skip exercise time at the Ramsey Center? Break a sweat at the mere thought of having to wait for your 30 minutes on the elliptical? Is it too much for your patience to endure? Us, too.
The answer to those problems might be left up to the dogs – the Gym Dogs, of course. Their loss is our gain – at least when it comes to workout facilities.
As the three-time National Champions move to their new on-campus training facility this fall, their old practice room in Ramsey will be converted into a two-story facility for all students to use, comprised of workout equipment and exercise rooms for cardio aerobics and other classes.
Although construction may take a while, plans to renovate the room are going up to the Board of Regents in October.
As Director of Recreational Sports Mitch Gartenberg said, “For a university population of this size, our fitness is less than what is considered standard. This will put us close to where we should be in terms of being able to serve students.”
In the meantime, we’re so ready for the new facility – it’ll just give us more reason to get in shape and check out the athletic hotties working out, too.
