Are online music, games, pornography and other personal activities preventing students from doing course-related work on Skyline’s computers?
     Skyline computer labs offer accessible workstations at no cost. Although most computers can be used for more than an hour, some students continue to abuse the time limits, thus restricting ample time for others who need them for course-related work. These students often log onto explicit web sites that defy the regulations and policies of proper uses.
     “Chatting, game playing & other non-academic activities are PROHIBITED ON ALL LIBRARY COMPUTERS EXCEPT TABLE C,” according to “Computer/ Internet Acceptable Use Policy” on Skyline Library’s website. Other unacceptable uses include, “extensive use for private and personal business,” and “displaying sexually explicit, graphically disturbing, or sexually harassing images or text on a college computer unless it is directly related to a college course.”
     Students logging onto the Internet for personal use, and disallowing others to use the computers for school-related activities after exceeding the time limit are some issues that arise for those who do comply to the policies.
     “We have one table set aside for personal use, but it gets overcrowded,” said Eric Brenner, librarian and online research instructor. “We do not explicitly prevent people from going to specific sites, but if people complain then that becomes a problem.”
     Students access the computers to kill time between classes or extra-curricular activities and although people can find almost anything on the internet, pop-up advertisements don’t make it any better because students, sometimes, get curious on what the site has to offer.
     “When you have about three hours of break in between classes, sometimes it feels like you’ve looked at almost every website on the internet,” said Celina Ramirez, computer lab user. “The pop-up’s only give me more ideas of what web sites to visit and sometimes, if they’re interesting, I’ll click on them.”
     Although G. Michael Mc Neil, Microcomputer Lab instructional aid, approves of game playing and chatting, he would not allow students to view pornography sites, which he says are explicit.
     “I would ask them to leave,” Mc Neil said.
     Brenner says: “The biggest problem seems to be overusing the computers, preventing course-related work, “We try to be flexible with time limit and give students an hour for personal use; otherwise, we ask for people to leave.”
     Time limits vary in the different computer labs; while the library sets an hour for personal use, students in the Microcomputer lab of Building 2 have a two-hour time limit if there are other students waiting in line.
     “Students usually sign in before logging onto any computers in the lab, said Rachelle Juanga, Microcomputer lab student assistant. “If one lab is full, they may move to another open section, but it’s usually first come first serve.”
     McNeil explained that most students comply with the rules, but some of them rebel when asked to leave. “We’ve had to call security before.” McNeil said
     “Students should be able to view whatever they please on the internet, unless it disrupts others’ privacy, or if they’re taking other student’s time, especially the one’s who need it for school work,” said student Pamela Tabique.
     “We do not electronically monitor the students’ activities,” Brenner said. “Students should be more respectful and allow others to use the computers for important use.”
     And while misusing the internet for personal activities may lead to angry students having to wait their turn, the Skyline College Internet Policy specifically states, “Unacceptable uses will include: 4.) Extensive use for private and personal business.”