The $75 million Washington/ Wabash station is one of a kind PAGE 29
Volume 53, Issue 2
September 11, 2017
PAGE 20 Autistic and LGBTQ, fighting for ColumbiaChronicle.com representation and proper care
Open Labs
closed ‘today,’ and every day THREE ON-CAMPUS OPEN Labs were closed to eventually provide a single site within the Library and offer students increased access to improved technology—a change that left lab employees unexpectedly without jobs for the fall semester. The labs, located at 1104 S. Wabash Ave., 618 S. Michigan Ave. and 33 E. Congress Parkway, were officially closed Sept. 5, and students were directed to the Library, 624 S. Michigan Ave. The college’s goal is to expand student resources with new computers, collaborative workspaces, printing and extended hours, according to a collegewide Sept. 5 email sent by Chief Information Officer Byron Nash and Dean of the Library Jan Chindlund. Chindlund said the Library had discussed Open Lab closures with Information Technology members over the summer but is unsure exactly why the labs were closed. Chindlund added that she is unsure what will happen to the computers and other equipment from the Open Labs but knows they will not be moved to the Library. “We have a lot of duplication of what the Open Labs had,” Chindlund said. “We’ve always had scanners, we’ve always had PCs and Macs, and we’ve always had seating and places to collaborate. So there isn’t a lot of newness for the library except that we will be welcoming those students who may have used Open Labs in the past.” Chindlund said old computers in the Library will be replaced with new ones and
» MONICA WESTLAKE/CHRONICLE
outfitted with the same programs that were available in the Open Labs. All computers in the Library will be upgraded with up-to-date Apple, Adobe and Microsoft Office applications. The Library will also offer student training sessions for both Moodle and Canvas as the college transitions to Canvas throughout the academic year, according to the email. Nash declined to comment. While the move to the library enhanced resources for students, lab employees were unexpectedly laid off from their fall positions at the labs a few days before they were closed and the semester officially began. Kat Hassler, a senior photography major, said she worked at the lab in the 33 E. Congress Building over the summer and spoke with Daniel Wood, emerging technology specialist who oversees the Student Labs, in July about continuing her position in the fall. Hassler said she had already gotten her work schedule for the semester when a meeting with Tim Bodzioney, computer labs coordinator, and Eric Wordlow, assistant director of Student Employment,was scheduled to speak about changes happening at the labs. “Immediately, Eric is like, ‘Yeah so officially this Thursday, the Open Labs are going to be closed.’ And then he went into, ‘We’ll help you find other jobs [and] we’ll make you guys first priority,’ but they let us know two days before the labs were closed for good,” Hassler said. Bodzioney did not respond to requests for comment as of press time.
SEE OPEN LABS, PAGE 3
» ARIANA PORTALATIN & CONNOR CARYNSKI MANAGING EDITOR & CAMPUS EDITOR