Editor,
The reason the 80 percent cutoff point for establishing the 250 pages per semester free printing limit at the computer labs is flawed (80 percent of students printed out less than 250 pages) is because it puts people who print out 251 pages in the same category as those who print out excessive amounts (10,000, as one student did).
The policy-setters have thus determined that 251 pages equals excess, and also decided to literally tax or raise tuition for those students who printed between 251 and whatever real excess is. The policy makers have failed to really determine what is excess, since 251 is obviously not excess. Additionally, the 250-page limit discriminates against non-math, non-science and non-engineering students, and graduate students, because their course work necessitates more printing from all the research and writing.
As a graduate student, my instructor listed about 12 journal articles as class resources. We were required to print out two, and encouraged to print out more.
Studies concluded about 20 years ago that reading comprehension is greater from the printed page compared to the computer screen page. Given the useful academic tools of highlighting and making notes in the margin, as well as class discussion, limiting resources to online viewing is not logical, tenable or desirable. We were also required to print out and distribute short summaries and bibliographies to other students. Additionally, this instructor required two copies of the final research paper.
You should obtain the statistics from IT showing all pages printed by students for the last couple of fall and spring semesters. You can do this without requesting students’ names. Then you can put the data into charts and graphs and determine a true excess number. You can also determine how much revenue IT/UNM would collect once the $0.08 per page charge for over 250 pages goes into effect. You can correct for deterrent effect, obviously, the person printing 10,000 copies probably for a favorite nonprofit organization or self-aggrandizement, will not be printing out any at $0.08 per page. Others may also be more conservative. Is this just a way for IT to supplement its operating budget in times of funding cutbacks? You can also suggest, from this data, what is truly excessive. If IT doesn’t voluntarily give you the info, you can request it via an Inspection of Public Records Act request.
Robin G. Wakeland
UNM student
Editor’s note: The Daily Lobo appreciates this idea and will follow up. Thank you.
