[61] in Resnet-Forum
Highly Residential Schools
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (BILL SINGLETON)
Thu Nov 18 11:48:08 1993
Date: Thu, 18 Nov 1993 11:14:55 -0500 (EST)
From: BILL SINGLETON <SINGLETON@MINNIE.HOLLINS.EDU>
To: resnet-forum@MIT.EDU
Cc: SINGLETON@MINNIE.HOLLINS.EDU
From: MINNIE::SINGLETON "BILL SINGLETON" 17-NOV-1993 19:36:45.59
To: SMTP%"resent-forum@mit.edu"
CC: SINGLETON
Subj: Highly Residential Schools
Mike Miller asks:
> I'm curious if there are other schools which have very high percentages of
> on-campus students and have networked their residence halls. Notre Dame
> has about 85% of it's undergrad students living on-campus in a situation
> where -- particularly in the absense of fraternities and sororities -- the
> residence halls form the core of the student experience and existence.
>
> I'd like to know if any other schools have similarly high on-campus
> residence rates, and if so, has any thought been given to how adding
> computing-on-demand to the mix could fundamentally change the student
> experience.
Hollins is also highly residential and has no sororities (we're a single-sex
college). So far, based entirely upon antecdotal evidence, it appears that the
appearance of a definable set of students with access to the campus network has
created new ad hoc communities. One such group consists of thse students with
computers of a particular type (PC or MAC), who form self-help groups. Another
group is those students who want access to a dorm-based computer, but don't have
one. I don't think they're being hypocritical, but they certainly seem to want to
know those with networked systems.
Also, I've noticed that the existence of a noticeable group with networked systems
has increased the demand for computers and network access by other students in the
same halls. Most of the students connected to our network are Freshmen, and most
Freshmen are housed in one hall. I am still getting requests for information and
connections from students in that hall, while some halls have NO networked systems
in them.
Given our experience this year, I would expect that we will have an increasingly
large proportion of the Freshmen signing up for network connections (e.g., 18%
this year, 25% next year, etc.) and a small number of upper class women asking for
access. Our biggest problem this year is that we were too successful in atracting
students to the network. My PC coordinator and I were swamped with connection
requests. Our greatest need, right now, is for a plan that will help us cope with
success (this is not a joke)!
William L. Singleton
Director of Computer Services
Hollins College
