by Wendy J. Allyn

Graduate and Professional Student Council members rejected a proposal by the Undergraduate Student Government asking the council to help fund computer upgrades Wednesday, citing concern that the benefits would not be worth the cost.

The vote followed a presentation to GPSC at this week’s council meeting by USG computer systems analyst Mark Collins. Collins said he researched the lowest cost for implementing a local area network within the USG office which would have connected USG and GPSC computers.

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This proposal is the best because USG and GPSC will be sharing the costs of this system and implementing it together instead of individually where the costs are much higher, Collins said during the presentation.

GPSC President William Karrow said he doubted that the council should accept the proposal.

At this time there are still solid questions about what we’ll get out of this, Karrow said. The executive board is not necessarily in favor of this.

Collins’ proposal displayed itemized costs of implementing the network and listed the possible benefits for USG and GPSC including storing files electronically, sharing files and common software, 24-hour data server access and network virus control and backup.

The proposal states that the total cost for GPSC would be about $3,000, nearly half of what is needed to implement the system. Some council members said GPSC’s cost was unfair because the system would benefit USG more than the council.

GPSC member Scott Thorne said, USG is going to get the lion’s share of the benefits. I don’t see why the costs should be broken down fifty-fifty.

GPSC member Jennifer McCain asked the council to consider how many people would be using the proposed system and experiencing its benefits. Karrow said only a few GPSC members currently use the computer system.

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In our office, there’s maybe two people who use it, Karrow said. We don’t even dial into the network that often.

McCain said the office computers are not used by enough people to justify the expense.

You’re talking about $3,000 to make two people’s lives easier, she said.

Twenty-six members voted against the joint venture with USG and five abstained.

Collins said it has yet to be decided whether USG will go ahead with implementing the network alone.

USG President Duane Sherman said he feels USG still has a need for the system. The USG Senate will vote on the proposal in the future, he said.

They (GPSC) may have felt they don’t need it, but we have more people here working who will use it, Sherman said.

Other GPSC business included accepting nominations for vice president of administrative affairs. The GPSC constitution states that nominations must be taken at two consecutive meetings and voted upon at the third for such offices.

Acting Vice President Doug Phebus, a third year law student, was nominated at the Sept. 6 meeting to fill the position permanently. No one else was nominated Wednesday. The vote will take place at GPSC’s next meeting on Oct. 4.