news
June 14, 2010
GOOGLE MAPS
Mapping out Miami Dade College Continued from Cover MDC] was very welcoming and accommodating, so we’re excited to be able to work together.” Google’s primary way of taking photos is with their specially adapted Street View cars, first launched in 2007. To reach areas not accessible by car, like college campuses for example, Google created the “Trike,” and launched its photos last summer with its first run through LEGOLAND in California. Google also launched its first Street View Snowmobile in February of this year to take images on the Whistler Blackcomb Ski Slopes in preparation for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. Wendy Wang, operations
program manager for Google Maps, said on the company’s blog that the Trike has gone through a few different versions to get to where it is now. “The first [Trike] came in at 500 pounds,” said Wang, “and the newest version has slimmed down to 300 pounds. Believe me, our riders are very happy about that.” According to Filadelfo, there are only about a dozen Google bikers around the world, traveling from location to location in teams of two. “We hire riders especially for this project,” Filadelfo said. “We need an athletic team to ride the 250-pound Trike around all day. The teams rotate turns riding and act as safety riders to scout terrain and help in case of any
incidents.” Filadelfo said photos take at least a few months to go up on Google Maps, since they do a lot of high-tech image processing to turn the photos into the interactive, 360-degree experience. Images are updated every two to three years from their Street View cars, but no timetable has been set up for the Trike just yet. As of today, Google has Street Views in almost 20 countries. That’s a lot of biking. But not everyone is thrilled with Google Maps high-tech operation. “A lot of young kids think the Trike is an ice cream cart,” Filadelfo said. “It’s always a little sad to have to disappoint them.”
PHOTO COURTESY OF PHIL ROCHE / MDC MEDIA RELATIONS
Triking: Google Maps’ hired rider drives the 300 lbs Trike around the Wolfson Campus, capturing areas not accessible by car. This feature will help students find their way around campus.
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TEXTBOOKS
Students now able to rent books; save money New option aimed at putting money back in students’ pockets will be implemented at Miami Dade College this fall semester. Mark Pulaski Staff Writer One of the biggest headaches college students face is the high cost of textbooks. Miami Dade College students might be getting some relief soon thanks to a program aimed at leaving students with more cash in their pockets. The Follet Corporation, which operates almost 900 college bookstores nationwide, is implementing its Rent-AText program at all eight MDC campuses beginning this fall. The program will save students at least 50 percent on the retail value of books, according Omar Betts, district director for all MDC bookstores. Other schools such as Florida State University and St. Petersburg College have successfully used the project for several years now. Betts said the program is at the forefront to make higher education more affordable. “We don’t compete, we lead,” Betts said. “The rest follow.” In order to participate in the program students must go through a registration process, much like they would at any movie-rental outlet. Students visit the website www.rent-atext.com and provide some basic information such as school name, the student’s name and their e-mail address. A valid credit card is used as collateral, and then students can
walk into the bookstore at any MDC campus and pick up the materials they need. Students can make notes or highlight small sections as if they had purchased the book. Water damage, missing pages and written obscenities will not be tolerated and students in that case would be responsible for the full cost of the book. If at any time a student decides they want to keep the book, they can convert it over to a sale and pay the remainder of the retail value. The thought of saving money has many students across campus eagerly anticipating the arrival of the program. “The books are expensive,” said Mimose Jean, 27, an early childhood education major. “I’m only going to use it for that semester and then it’s going to collect dust in my closet…it’s good to re-think and re-use.” The program is not limited to physical rentals. The Follet Corporation also offers a digital text program through the website www.cafescribe.com. Once registered, students can rent and purchase books, as well as share notes and essays with other students from other schools across the country. “Bringing affordability to course materials is something that has been voiced out by students for years,” said Albert Torres, bookstore director at MDC’s Kendall Campus. “We’re just very excited. We know that it’s going to provide students with viable options that will make the price of textbooks and education more affordable and we’re glad we can partake in that.”
CAMPUS LIFE
College’s surplus warehouse offers great deals for students Theo Karantsalis Staff Writer When computers, printers, televisions, desks, chairs and furniture are sent out to pasture at Miami Dade College, students can get some great deals. The “consolidated warehouse,” located at 8643 N.W. 68th St. in Medley, stores the College’s surplus property. College faculty and staff can visit the Medley warehouse and select items for their office. Bookshelves, hutches and oversized desks are just some of the items employees are able to bring back to their office—free of charge.Students and the general public can find items at reduced rates.
“Everything is priced to sell,” Senior Manager Maria Halloran said. “Computers and laptops sell for $75, chairs for $5.” Prices are subject to change at any time and property is sold “as is.” “That’s a great deal, especially for students low on cash,” said Deandra Cooper, 19, an education major at the Carrie P. Meek Entrepreneurial Education Center. But purchasing an item from the warehouse is not as simple. Students, employees and the public must select an item, then return to Bursar’s Office to pay for it. Once issued an official college receipt, he or she must drive back to Medley to pick it up. “The warehouse can’t accept
www.mdc.edu/falcontimes
payments for items purchased there,” Halloran said. Cooper suggests one day a week or month where students can select and pay for items “on the spot” at the warehouse. “Bet you’d sell a lot more stuff,” said Cooper. The consolidated warehouse in Medley contains several bays, each serving a unique purpose. Furniture, including desks and chairs, as well as electronics such as computers, laptops and other electronics are organized in long rows like crops in a field. Archived college records are neatly stacked and numbered in industrial shelves. Ruben Paz is the supervisor of the Medley warehouse. “We store everything from
computers to furniture to college records,” said Paz, “for all eight campuses.” “The warehouse provides a great help to all the campuses who do not have storage,” said Halloran, who manages records from the time they are archived until final disposition. Halloran said she helps the college and students by ensuring that this information is available “when and where it is needed, in an efficient manner.” What might appear as a simple task is complicated by a strict set of rules. The state of Florida has an 11-page retention schedule that all universities and community colleges must follow, according to Judith Ring, director of the State
Library & Archives of Florida— the agency that publishes the rules. Ring said that retention times vary depending on the type of record. For example, a class schedule needs to be retained “until the end of the semester,” according to the state’s retention rules. Other data, like parking tickets, need to be retained for 180 days. Discipline records must be retained for five years. Enrollment records are retained permanently. “Consolidated Warehouse” Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. For information: Call (305) 717-6839.