Tim Cooper
Staff Reporter

Writers Workbench lab made some drastic changes beginning on August 25 when lab administrator Sally Becker went before the NIACC board to request money for new technology. With the board's approval a grant was given to the lab for new computers.

"It was a smooth process," Becker said. "The board wants to support the students and their success."

The lab now features brand new MPC computers, which boast Microsoft Word XP.

The benefits of the new computers include faster delivery speed, and the amount of space that has been saved due to the small size of the computers.

"The space is being saved greatly," Becker said. "It has become more of an open area."

Becker also indicated that students enjoy the speed and efficiency the computers allow. "The computers are easy and fast," Justin Johnson, a NIACC student, said about using the machines. "It has been a big difference between my old high school computers."

The new technology has also lightened the burden of the technical staff.

"We now face less computer problems," Josh Holmes, a lab assistant, said. "It has become an easier environment to work."

Although receiving the grant was a smooth process, Becker was quick to explain that installing the computers and programs was more than enough work.

"We had five people in here every day just trying to set it all up," Becker said. "There has been a lot of teamwork, this wouldn't be possible without the help of my technology service staff."

Travis Fischer
Staff Reporter

A year and a half ago, NIACC decided to change its record keeping computer system program, Poise, to DataTel's Colleague system.

This system officially went online on November 4 of last year but the major applications have yet to be implemented.

The NIACC staff will be spending a significant amount of time learning how to use Colleague. "The next nine months will be very demanding on the staff," Mark Greenwood, director of Technology Services at NIACC, said.

The only application of the system to be activated before 2005 will be the Admissions system in October.

The next three months after the New Year will see more activations beginning with the payroll in January, Financial Aid and Accounts Receivable in February, and finally Registration in March.

During these times, students may discover that some offices will be short staffed as the NIACC staff is trained in using the new system.

Costing around a quarter of a million dollars, the DataTel system is a major investment for NIACC.

Thankfully, according to Greenwood, DataTel is a strong company that will not be going anywhere soon and will continue to support its products for a long time.

The new features may prove to be well worth the money as students will soon have the ability to add and drop classes and manage their college finances from their own computers. It will also be recording grades that will be accessible to students over the net.

According to Greenwood, a group of test students will be able to use the system this summer to work out any problems they may encounter. If all goes well the system will be fully operational by fall of next year.

Aaron Rush
Staff Reporter

Anyone using the west parking lot behind the Buettner Career Building this year will be in for a pleasant surprise because it is now paved.

"It was not advantageous as a gravel lot," Sandra Gobeli, vice president for Administrative Services, said. "It's an enhancement to the campus."

This project has been in the making for some time now.

"Ever since the Murphy building went in, probably longer," Gobeli said regarding the early plans to pave the lot.

However, this year the plant fund, which is supported by a local property tax levy, had the funds necessary for the project.

The cost of the pavement was $239,000, with the additional engineering fee not exceeding $45,000.

Jeff Milbrath
For the Logos

Many hear the students complain there is never anything to do on the weekend and with high gas prices there are not a lot of places for students to go.

Well think again, or think snow.

Currently in its fourth year, the NIACC Ski and Snowboard Club is a great way for students to find that excitement many seem to be missing out on.

With winter still two months away, the club already has 25 members and is looking for more. "The club is a great way for students to get involved with all NIACC has to offer and provides an out-of-school activity for students to participate in," Bruce McKee, a four-year club adviser and co-founder of the club along with instructor John Brietzke, said.

"Because there isn't a lot of snow on the ground here in town, students don't realize that ski resorts create their own snow." McKee said.

The Ski Club travels to ski resorts in Minnesota such as Welch Village, Afton Alps and Mount Kato.

The club will also be traveling to Big Mountain, Montana for its annual spring break trip. Club members will travel out to Montana by train leaving from St. Paul, Minnesota.

The train also travels through Glacier National Park on the way out to Montana.

"I don't even know how to ski but joining the club gives my friends and I something to do," Lena Frein, a current club member and NIACC sophomore, said.

With free ski lessons, discounted prices on lift tickets and no cost for transportation, the NIACC Ski and Snowboard club is a great way for students to get involved with what NIACC has to offer and put an end to boredom on the weekends.

If you are interested in joining the club you can sign up on the club's website at http://staff.niacc.edu/skiclub/, by contacting Bruce McKee in his office BC-105 or John Brietzke in his office BC-222.

If you are not interested in joining the club but are interested in the Montana Spring Break trip you can sign up in the NIACC Business Office.

Travis Fischer
Staff Reporter

With all of NIACC's new technological upgrades in recent times a rumor has spread across the campus that NIACC will support wireless computer capabilities across the school.

"Somewhere along the line there's been a conversation that we will become wireless on campus," Mark Greenwood, director of Technology Services at NIACC, said.

It is true that NIACC already supports wireless capabilities in student housing and that NIACC has bought some of the equipment.

In fact, access points are planned to be put in place at various locations across campus according to Greenwood.

The Activity Center, the new Cafˇ Bean shop and the Pappajohn Center are all candidates for wireless technology in the future according to Greenwood.

So while there is a grain of truth to the campus-wide wireless rumor, it's not entirely accurate.

"There are some plans to get wireless in some places on campus but not campus wide," Greenwood said.

While there is no definite timeframe for the wireless technology to be installed, Greenwood has said that he has no intention of letting their equipment sit unused.