EDITORIAL – Pitt should cooperate with printing program

Pitt students are all too familiar with long lines trailing outside campus computer labs and… Pitt students are all too familiar with long lines trailing outside campus computer labs and endless waits for their printouts. Unfortunately, this is all part of Pitt’s campus computing experience.

But one student has found the perfect solution.

With the help of two of his friends, senior Corey Bonnell created the software program Pitt Lab Printer, which allows Pitt students to print to the campus computer labs from anywhere off campus.

As reported in yesterday’s Pitt News, Bonnell said that hundreds of people have already downloaded the program and that he has received steady positive feedback.

And it’s no surprise. The convenience of this program is undeniable.

By printing from their homes, Pitt students can save valuable time. Furthermore, the program does not waste extra paper; it applies to the student printing quota.

Former SGB member Will Powers attempted to implement a similar plan two years ago, but failed despite SGB’s extensive resources.

But with all the positives of the Pitt Lab Printer program, Computer Services and Systems Development at Pitt is far from thrilled.

Director Jinx Walton told The Pitt News that the software “isn’t an effective solution” and that Pitt officials are working toward “a more elegant solution.”

Their alternative solution, however, is nowhere near as convenient as Bonnell’s program. With their plan, Walton said that Pitt students would be able print to specific printers in the computer labs. After swiping their ID cards, their documents would print.

But this plan does not ease the problem of waiting for the printouts.

In fact, having to swipe your ID card is an added hassle.

Instead of cooperating with Bonnell in making his program even more effective, Pitt officials are acting childishly with their nonsensical criticisms.

Maybe they’re just bitter they didn’t come up with such a program first.

The key issue here is convenience. Pitt would do well to implement programs that make simple things like printing more convenient.

For example, earlier this week, Pitt introduced the LaundryView monitoring system, which allows Pitt students to view a live simulation of the Litchfield Towers’ laundry room through Panther Central’s website. LaundryView saves students the time and energy of lugging bags and bags of laundry only to find that all the machines are occupied.

With everything students have to worry about, from school work to bills, programs like these make our lives a little bit easier.

So, instead of stubbornly implementing an alternative plan, Pitt should help Bonnell expand his.