PHAROS System taken out of Moudy
New printing method disabled

By Maliha Suleman
Staff Reporter

The journalism computer labs in Moudy Building South have had problems printing graphics since the PHAROS System was installed, said David Edmondson, assistant provost for information services.

The issue was brought up at a deans’ council meeting Tuesday and the printers will be off of the PHAROS System until the problem is fixed, Edmondson said.

“I found out last week that there has been a problem in printing graphics where it either doesn’t print properly or doesn’t print at all, but we are working on correcting the situation,” Edmondson said.

Edmondson said other students might begin using the journalism labs for printing because there is no charge being incurred presently. Students using computer labs which don’t use Macintosh computers, including the Mary Couts Burnett Library and Student Center Reading Room, are still using the PHAROS System to print material. The printing policy, where 8 cents will be added to send-home bills after a 200-page limit is reached, still remains, he said.

David Whillock, interim dean of the College of Communication, said there’s a possibility of increasing the limit from 200 pages to a higher number.

“We needed a number to start with, but maybe we need to expand that number,” he said.

Whillock said a better idea of how many classes incorporate printed material from the Internet is needed. He said while one student may be required to print out extensive material for a class, another may not.

“We do need to find out what the requirements of classes and students in general are and what is a good number,” Whillock said. “But this will not be universal.”

Edmondson said most universities they communicated with applied a printing fee without giving a limit.

“Most universities had the charge from the start,” he said. “We wanted to be a little more user-friendly, and 200 pages seemed like an appropriate number.”

Ashraf Muncherjee, a junior economics major, said he thinks an increase in the page limit could be a better avenue without eliminating the policy.

“I think students do tend to abuse printing in the computer labs sometimes, but if this policy has to stand, the best thing to do would be to bump up the number,” he said.

Whillock said students opinions are important for starting the next course in the printing policy.

“Students should voice their views through the Student Government (Association) and other channels so the university has information for the next course, which is to find out how successful that particular printing limit is,” he said.

Maliha Suleman
m.a.suleman@student.tcu.edu