EDITORIAL: Touch-screen directory computers a misuse of university money
Spending $100,000 on 10 touch-screen computers meant to be used primarily as directories in the Education and Human Services Building is a senseless misappropriation of university money.
The units are going to be used as a map, directory, to list events and provide advertising space. Seven of them would be installed in the EHS Building, one in Wightman Hall, one in Finch Fieldhouse and another kept as a mobile unit in the EHS dean’s office.
While it is understandable that the university wants the EHS Building to be a showcase, this is an excessive expenditure.
Questions need to be answered, such as what these touch-screen units can do that makes them worth $10,000 each and what they are going to be used for that a $499 iPad or other consumer-grade touch-screen computer cannot do.
Also needing clarification is why, exactly, it was decided for seven of these units be installed in the EHS Building, and only two elsewhere on campus. Is the EHS Building that important, while other buildings fall in disrepair?
Wouldn’t such a resource be just as valuable or even moreso if they were placed where a majority of students congregate or pass through, such as the Charles V. Park Library or Bovee University Center?
Does the fact we are spending $100,000 on electronic decorations for a select portion of campus mean that the university will not have to spend more money to prevent heavy flooding in classroom buildings?
Having such a resource as a readily handy map and directory of campus is certainly valuable, but is it $10,000-per-unit valuable? And why should this resource be focused primarily on one classroom building?
Perhaps these touch-screen units will be advanced enough to do students’ homework for them, or maybe nobody notified the university that touch-screen technology is becoming increasingly affordable. At this point, it is difficult to tell.
The waiting game won’t be played for long, however, as the units are planned to be in place by mid-November.
Within the next month, students will be able to decide for themselves whether or not this was a prudent use of $100,000 of their tuition money.
