Just the Macs, ma'am: CIT's new computer lab calls Tjaden home

Doctoral candidate and graduate teaching assistant Wen-San Huang, left, consults with undergraduate teaching assistant Sarah Kandora '04 on a project during the computer lab section of a vertebrate biology class in the new instructional computer lab in Olive Tjaden Hall, Feb. 4. Nicola Kountoupes/University Photography

By Leslie Intemann

It's Mac time in Olive Tjaden Hall -- 221 Tjaden, that is.

Housed within the Department of Art in an all-white room with new desks and chairs are 21 new Macintosh G5s, complete with the Jaguar (10.2) operating system and 1.5 gigabytes of memory apiece.

Who can use them? Everybody on campus. All are welcome in the newest Cornell Information Technologies (CIT) instructional computer lab, which offers specialized software and peripherals to the entire Cornell community. Each G5 runs the Studio MX Suite, which includes Dreamweaver, Extension Manager, the animation program Flash, Fireworks and Freehand. For CD burning, there is Toast. Two black-and-white printers, one color printer and a ceiling-mounted projection unit complete the décor.

"This lab is much improved over our former home in the old Mann Building," said Lori Beebe, CIT's instructional lab coordinator for Tjaden. "The old lab did its job, but with this one we hope to expand beyond the norm and experiment with today's present needs."

Beebe got notice last August that Tjaden had room for her lab, which was none too soon, given that her lease at the old Mann Library Building was up. Her plan had been to distribute the new G5s to other CIT labs across campus. But three weeks into the fall semester, Beebe opened the Tjaden lab with brand-new G5s. "Knowing what short notice CIT was given, the art department was pleased," said Beebe.

Andrew Goldman, CIT's academic lab consultant in Tjaden, was impressed with the new Macs. "They're easier to use than I expected, and I'm impressed with the friendly, welcoming people and how the art school was able to articulate its needs so clearly. For example, the G5s all have a neutral gray desktop, so it doesn't interfere with students' projects." Individuals hired to work in this lab are experienced with all software and peripherals so they can best serve the lab's customers.

Customers, however, come from all over campus. Tjaden is an instructional facility for all to use, and classes, including ones on Flash, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, FileMaker and introductory art courses on computer, are currently taught on Mondays and Wednesdays. Lawyers from across New York state learned how to use their online database in Tjaden, and CIT's Distributed Learning Services division taught part of its Getting Started series there as well, which created new ties with faculty in Architecture, Art and Planning. The Getting Started series offers hands on-courses to assist faculty, graduate students and instructional staff with implementing technology prior to each semester.

Sarah Kandora '04, who teaches biology students how to use evolution software in Tjaden, said, "The lab is clean, quiet and contemporary. Both art students and art lovers will benefit because it is located at a convenient location near the Johnson Museum and Architecture, Art and Planning facilities. The staff, always dressed with a smile, is both knowledgeable and willing to help."

"I can't praise the CIT lab staff highly enough. They've been helpful, responsive and deeply invested in making the facility useful for both instruction and individual research or art projects," said Buzz Spector, professor and chair of the Department of Art.

Future additions to the lab include a sound system for instructors and videoconferencing services.

The Tjaden Lab hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 8 a.m.-2 a.m.; Fridays, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturdays, noon-6 p.m.; and Sundays, noon-2 a.m. For more information about CIT's public computer labs, visit http://www.cit.cornell.edu/labs/.