From: utzoo!decvax!ittvax!swatt
Newsgroups: net.followup
Title: Re: How can they do this
Article-I.D.: ittvax.466
Posted: Fri Oct 22 14:20:23 1982
Received: Sat Oct 23 02:23:44 1982
References: burdvax.242 floyd.713

There was an article in yesterday's Wall Street Journal about a joint
project between IBM and CMU to develop a campus-wide network of 4000
personal computers.  The CMU people conceded that incoming freshmen
might be required to buy computers.

Frankly, I disagree with such a requirement.  For such purposes as
announcements, administrative communications, etc., traditional
methods like student mailboxes are preferable.  If the administration
wants to interface the computer network to paper in mailboxes, they
are welcome to do so.  Forcing students, especially in non-technical
majors, to use and maintain a computer system is unfair.  We who
use computers in our daily lives today should be the first to admit
that computer-based communication systems aren't reliable and simple
enough to FORCE on people for essential communications with a
governing administration.

If students ARE in techinical majors, then I agree that a computer
is a tool they must understand how to use, and if adequate power
can be purchased for a reasonable sum (notice I don't define "adequate"
and "reasonable"), then perhaps each student owning a personal computer
is the best way to absorb the necessary skills.

	- Alan S. Watt