November 19, 1999 - LION’S EYE - Page 7 the library. Karen Gardener and fellow students take advantage of the new iMac computers in Photo by Michelle King M.O.C. Gives Guidelines By Scott Troyan Lion’s Eye Staff Writer For the first time, Penn State has made an official recommendation regarding student computer purchases. Through the Microcomputer Center (M.O.C.) and the Center for Academic Computing, first year students are provided with guidelines for purchasing a computer. The recommendation, in two parts, first states it is strongly recommended for all incoming students to purchase, or have access to, a computer. It secondly suggests the university develop means to provide enhanced technical support and training for students and faculty. The creation of an official recom- mendation also means low-income students are eligible for financial aid to cover computer costs. Also, the recom- mendation asks for the development of financial aid plans and pricing strategies for all students purchasing computers. Recommendations are provided by the M.O.C. for both Apple and IBM/ Intel compatible computers. The configuration is applicable to either desktop or laptop systems. Currently, the minimum recommended system includes: Intel compatible 300MHz or Power Macintosh Real Life (Continued from page 3) Students in Wayne McMullen’s Speech Communication 415 class, which focuses on the rhetoric of film, are asked to attend Villanova’s Monday night film series at least once. The series allows students to screen films and to listen to a guest speaker. McMullen said, “Students have responded enthusiastically to this out-of-class activity.” Students in Jan Guan’s Sociology ~ class visited Chinatown, which “is an excellent sample of an urban enclave,” according to Guan. Students met the Pastor Charles Koo who introduced the function and role of the Chinese Christian Church in Chinatown. They also met Mitzie Mackenzie, Director Emeritus of the Chinatown Community, and Esther Ho’s kindergarten class, who shared information about Thanksgiving that many of the Delco students did not know. In addition, students got to eat in the first Chinese restaurant in Chinatown. Later in the semester students went to an African American community were they got a tour of a Philadelphia mural, which tells about the community’s “vitality, history, caring, and dreams,” according to Guan. They also visited a racially integrated community in Mount Airy, where they tasted soul food. Coming up for the spring semester are trips to the French Rivera, Seville, and London. In addition to the arts and culture classes offered by Alita Kelley, 266MHz G3 processor, 64MB of Random Access Memory (RAM), 2GB hard disk drive, 8x speed CD-ROM drive, 56K v.90 modem (for off campus connections) or 10BaseT Ethernet card (for on campus connections) and a 15 inch monitor. The suggested cost for the above system is at least $1,150 for a desktop or $1,500 for a laptop. Nothing is required, they are recommendations provided by the university for students. The M.O.C. provides complete system ordering services for students, and has customized links to several manu- facturers and online stores. Also provided are suggested software packages for students. They include Windows 95/98, Windows NT 4, Mac- intosh OS 8 or higher, Microsoft Office or WordPerfect Suite and antivirus software. Several of the software packages are available free through a licensing agreement with Microsoft; including Office 2000 Professional edition, FrontPage 2000 and Visual Studio Pro. M.O.C.: moc.cac.psu.edu Freshman recommendations: moc.cac.psu.edu/mocpage/freshman/fres hman.html Microsoft licensing agreement: moc.cac.psu.edu/msoverview.html Connie Kirker, Paul Greene, and Arnold Markley during the London trip, a Speech Communication Internship will be available, which is coordinated by Arden Watson. It not only includes working at a company in London for 40 hours, but also requires working at the same company in Philadelphia for 40 hours. Carol Kessler plans to have students in American Studies 104 visit off-campus sites in the Delaware Valley that deal with women issues. Also, Robert Ginsberg has planned a spring trip to Washington D.C. for his Philosophy 9H class, but all students are invited. The trip includes a visit to the Mall at the Smithsonian Institution, a home reception with Washington scholars, and visits to a library, gardens, and an exhibit. In addition, this spring students who express themselves through poetry will be able to get out of the classroom and read their poetry. The Second Annual Poetry Festival is being planned for April, according to coordinator Adam Sorkin. Students, faculty, and possibly Davis Keplinger, a professional poet, will be reading and/or translating work. Learning at Delco has left the classroom and is available as far as overseas. Instructors at Delco realize the importance of getting out of the classrooms and into the world, which benefits students and offers a unique way of learning. Rating iMacs Taking A Bite Out Of Apple By Ed Blackburn Lion’s Eye Staff Writer Last summer, Delco upgraded its Apple Macintosh arsenal by bringing in the flashy new iMac computers for both students and faculty. These sleek, one piece machines run 333 Megahertz processors, a far cry from the sluggish models known to irk cramming students in past semesters. But do the speed and the looks come with a price? A survey on campus brought mixed results. Among the complaints, most berated the mouse as awkward and unwieldy, and the keyboard as being too tiny. “The mouse is like a toy,” said senior Mesgana Teklegiorgis. “It looks like it’s part of a game.” Sally Ent of Student Life, who was having trouble the exact moment she was asked, said that the mouse seemed to “run away from her” at times. Sophomore Sharon Holmes equally disliked the mouse. “I hate it,” she said. “I’m used to double-clicking, on PCs, and these are awkward.” She also criticized the keyboard. “The letters are too small and the numbers are too big. Sometimes I go to hit F1 or something and I hit 1 or 2.” Donnell Tillery II, Computer & Telecommunications Specialist, is happy with the iMac and insists that they just take some getting used to. “I like them a lot, and haven’t heard too many complaints,” he said. “Most of the complaints are about the printers. “What we did by getting these is making the cheapest but fastest upgrade. Your career can grow as | quickly as our company. They will take time to get accustomed to. Some people just don’t like change. “The old keyboards,” he said while pointing to one, “used to be a lot bigger than today’s, and when the smaller, current ones arrived, they seemed awkward too.” At any rate, both students and faculty are happy with the lightning-quick processing and the refreshing new look. “There’s no un-needed plastic around the keyboard, and the response time is great,” affirmed sophomore Jonathan Coleman. Hetty Francke, from the University of Delaware, gives a speech on the benefits of recycling to kickoff Recycling Awareness Week, Nov. 15-19. Photo by Michelle King www.bam.com EE... Join Bell Atlantic Mobile — the company that's really making waves in wireless communications. As the East Coast's fastest- growing provider of leading-edge wireless voice, paging and data communications products and services, we're taking - communications into the future. Now's the time to start an exciting position that can lead to a very successful career! We currently have the following positions available throughout PA, NJ, and DE. RETAIL SALES PROFESSIONALS PART-TIME AND FuLL-TIME) e Sell our complete line of wireless products e Attain monthly quotas and handle extensive custom Ideal candidates must have: e 1-2 years experience in a retail or service industry e Knowledge of cellular communications a plus RetaiL CusTOMER CARE REPRESENTATI (PART-TIME AND FuLL-TIME) * Provide support for our retail sales team, assist customers, process payments and reconcile daily receipts Ideal candidates must have: * Prior customer service experience e Solid computer skills EVENING AND WEEKEND HOURS REQUIRED We offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package*, featuring: eHealth eDental eLife Insurance ¢401(k) eProfit Sharing *Tuition Assistance eEmployee Phone Program Employee Assistance Program ePersonal Days ®Paid Vacation All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements depending on an individual's employment status (Full-Time, Part-Time). *Requires an employment schedule of at least 24 hours per week. Please fax your resume to 215-638-3509 or mail to: Bell Atlantic Mobile, Human Resources, Attn: CN/PEN, 8 Neshaminy Interplex, Suite 317, Trevose, PA 19053. E-mail: jobs@bam.com No phone calls please. An equal opportunity employer, m/f/d/. Visit our home page on the Internet at: www.bam.com @ Bell Atlantic Mobile
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers