THURSDAY FEBRUARY" 25, 1999 - VOL. 84#20
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Computer staff on campus is seriously
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www.pcc-courieronline.com
ADMINISTRATION
Smart Card Debate Continues
BY TIM ALVES
Staff Writer
Students concerned with the potential abuses of personal information
stored within the silicon chip located on the new Lancercard met with
administrators, who assured that student social security numbers would be
kept confidential by CyberMark, and would not be sold.
Ernestine Moore, vice president of student services, and Stephen
Johnson, assistant dean of student affairs, met with the students Monday
evening. They addressed concerns regarding the switch from the old bar
code ID card to a computer chip with the ability to electronically record
what and where a student purchases items, and the chip’s perceived inva¬
sion of privacy. They also explained why CyberMark was given the social
security number (SSN) of every student at PCC.
According to Johnson, the old bar code ID cards were scrapped in favor
of the new computer chip card, or “smart card,” for security and conve¬
nience. The SSN was printed on the card in bar code format, and with the
widespread use of bar code scanners, was easily readable. The accessibil¬
ity of magnetic strip decoders also made the SSN vulnerable. “We weren’t
comfortable with the social security number being exposed,” explained
Moore.
In an effort to further protect the SSN, eventually the smart card will not
contain the SSN, but rather a 16 digit Individual Identification Number
(IIN), that is assigned to the student by CyberMark.
The cards also have the ability to store money in four “purses,” each one
designated for a specific purpose. As yet, only two of the four have devel¬
oped uses. A personal items purse with a maximum value of $50 could be
used for daily parking permits, food kiosks, cafeterias, and non-textbook
items at the bookstore. The second purse has been set aside for the pur¬
chase of textbooks, and would require a personal identification code prior
to usage.
If a card is reported lost or stolen, the cash value in the personal purse
would be nonrefundable. However the card’s IIN number would be ren¬
dered invalid, and CyberMark would issue the student a new smart card
CARD, page 3
FACULTY SENATE
Did You
Drop
That
Class?
BY SUSAN DIMOS
Staff Writer
The issue of a new add/drop
policy and errors in the attendance
records were dealt with by the fac¬
ulty senate, Ernestine Moore, vice
president of student and learning
services, and Stuart Wilcox, asso¬
ciate dean of student services.
The major issue was a problem
with first day no shows inevitably
appearing on the first census form
and permanent rosters even after
the instructor had dropped the stu¬
dent.
If not rectified, first day no
shows that are appearing on the
first census forms and eventually
permanent rosters could impact
the students’ records. '
The second issue involved a
new process for adding a class.
The senate decided unanimously
to eliminate the need for the acad¬
emic dean’s signature on the add
forms, noting that this procedure
was more time consuming than
necessary, thus allowing the
instructors to make the ultimate
decision to add a student to a
class. This new implementation
will go into effect with the upcom¬
ing summer session.
The potential problem in the
attendance recording system was
brought up by a couple of atten¬
tive instructors who noticed the
problem when it showed up on
their rosters. The actual cause of
DROPS, page 3
( HEADED FOR THE PLAYOFFS
SAMUEL HERNANDEZ
/
THE COURIER
Sophomore forward Tiana Sanders takes down the net at the Women’s
Gym last Friday. With a 72-52 victory against Mt. SAC, Pasadena earned
its third consecutive tournament berth and secured a 30-1 overall
record. SEE STORY PAGE 5
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ASSOCIATED STUDENTS
Computer Cafe
to Return Soon
Pay lab to open as free facility under AS board’s control
BY SID SARAF
Staff Writer
One thing that can plague a college student
is not being able to have consistent access to
a computer.
Well, the Associated Students have done
what they can to combat the situation, finding
the funds to re-open the computer cafe as a
free service on the bottom floor of the cam¬
pus center.
Just two semesters ago, that same facility
was shut down due to a lack of money and the
fact that students were not willing to pay to
use the lab.
However, starting last October, the AS
board, as well as Stephen Johnson, the assis¬
tant dean of student affairs, began stockpiling
computers and other supplies necessary to
begin the project anew. The all-new facility
will be run completely by the AS, which will
be responsible for budgeting it from year-to-
year.
“A project like this costs money, but it is
such a great opportunity. The new policy
should promote the use of computers,” said
Johnson, who hopes to have the facility run¬
ning with minimal staff as soon as next week.
The biggest difference between the old
center and the new version is the fact that stu¬
dents will not have to pay for time. Under the
old policy, the money students paid was used
to pay the staff. It was necessary to keep the
cafE open 24 hours a day. However, the stu¬
dent services fund committee approved a
budget for employees’ salaries, which no
longer made it a necessity to charge for com¬
puter us.
Under the new plan, the cafe will be open
24 hours a day. While it served mainly as a
place to type and print out term papers in the
past, the new version will be mostly a place
where students can get homework done. That
especially concerns the night owls on cam-
RICHARD FAVELA
/
THE COURIER
Computers lie stacked in the cafe.
pus, who would prefer to get their studying
done during the late night hours.
Safety will most likely not present a prob¬
lem either since the cafe will be located right
next to the campus police station. Cadets and
officers will look over the facility during the
early-morning hours, sparing employees the
unpleasant task of staying up all night.
“As far as we’re concerned, its done,” said
Bob Cody, the assistant dean of computing
services.
While Johnson admits that the computer in
the new cafe will not be as fast as those in the
old facility, they will nevertheless get the job
done. Most, if not all of them, will have
internet access. There will also be photo-
CAF€, page 3
RAY SHUI
/
THE COURIER
The house, located on 203 Meridith Ave., will
hopefully be completed just before summer.
STUDENTS AT WORK
Engineering Classes Builds Dream House
BY QUENTIN WILSON
Staff Writer
Students in several classes offered
by the engineering and technology divi¬
sion have nearly completed a home on
Meridith Street in Pasadena.
They have built the house from the
ground up, with finishing touches
scheduled to be done in May. It will
feature three bedrooms, two bathrooms,
state-of-the-art heating and cooling, and
detailed craftsmanship.
The architecture program begins the
process by designing the house, and the
drafting class sets up the blueprints.
The electric and building construction
classes then begin setting up the various
electrical conduits that will run into the
house from underground.
Instructor Richard Wheeler controls
the flow of work for the building con¬
struction classes, while Ted James, pro¬
fessor of engineering and technology,
regulates the electrical aspects of the
home.
The state revamps its electrical code
every three years, so James makes sure
his students and the home are up to date
on the latest technology. The electrical
systems in a modern home are expo¬
nentially more sophisticated that they
have been in past decades. With micro¬
processors controlling the basic func¬
tions of everything from microwaves to
coffee machines, it is important that
every outlet and switch meet or exceed
the standards that are set to control
them.
The students even have to avoid
making certain types of loops in the
wires buried beneath the wall. This can
cause a magnetic disturbance that can
render personal computers useless.
The students involved with the class
are enthusiastic and ambitious about
their careers in construction. Joe
Takajian, a beginning electrical student,
is expanding his knowledge to assist in
his father’s chandelier business.
Takajian feels that by placing students
in the field, as opposed to the class¬
room, the classes give them more expe-
HOUS6, page 4
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