Students who wish to use a computer lab at the height of the day often find themselves out of luck.

In an effort to reduce computer lab overcrowding, Information Technology Services (ITS) has posted lab statistic packages on its Web site, said ITS associate director Elizabeth Leake.

Available in this package are the locations’ real-time availability of all public computer labs on campus.

“This will help prevent the frustration associated with walking to a lab only to find that it is full with a long line of students who are waiting for a computer,” Leake said. “The tool also helps students learn how many public lab locations there are.”

In addition, the Web site also lists all software installed on computers in a particular lab. For example, the open source editor known as “Crimson Editor” is only available in Barsema Hall labs.

A student’s need for a computer varies. English major Justin Elam needs to use the labs to check course information over the Web.

“I have a class that posts everything online,” Elam said.

Elam, who frequents the computer lab in Reavis Hall, said there were several instances last semester where he was denied a computer because the lab was full.

“I didn’t get out of my class early, so when I got there 30 minutes later, the people from before were in there because they had that gap of time,” he said.

Justin Lantz, a junior physical therapy major and lab attendant in the Holmes Student Center, doesn’t believe overcrowding is a big issue.

“I don’t think the problem is overcrowding,” Lantz said. “The problem is not a lot of students know about the other labs on campus.”

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