The old Bear Access will work through 2000 -- but with limitations

By Bill Steele

If you keep running the old version of Bear Access through the year 2000, the world won't come to an end, but it might get a little more complicated.

Although Cornell Information Technologies has said the Help Desk "will not support" the old system after next summer, that doesn't mean the old software will stop working, according to Jon Atherton, Bear Access project director. Atherton was responding to a resolution passed last week by the Student Assembly, which asked CIT to continue to support the old version through 2001.

Atherton emphasized that most of the software running under the old Bear Access, such as Eudora for e-mail or Netscape for the World Wide Web, will continue to work just fine. However, the Launch Pad program that is part of the old Bear Access will no longer provide automatic updates to newer versions of these programs, because the installation process required for newer software is too complex.

What won't work at all, Atherton said, are services that are scheduled to be replaced as part of Project 2000, including Just the Facts and the timecard system COLTS. These require special client software running on the user's computer, and new clients have to be written that will work with the PeopleSoft administrative system being installed under Project 2000. Those clients are being written in the Java computer language, which reduces costs because the same program will run on both Macs and PCs.

The catch: Java won't work on older computers of either type, and the new software needs more hard drive space than many older machines have. To run the new Bear Access, CIT recommends a Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0 computer with a Pentium 133 or faster processor, or a Macintosh with a Power PC or 68040 processor running MacOS 7.6.1 or later.

On either platform, at least 32 MB RAM and 100 MB of free hard disk space are advised. Atherton said that in some cases, users will be able to get by with less RAM and hard disk space by doing a partial installation of the software.

These requirements could be a burden for some students, according to sophomore Matt Galin, executive vice president of the Student Assembly, who introduced the resolution calling for a delay.

"When I was a prospective student, I called up to find out what the computer requirements were. Now the requirements are higher," Galin said. "There are lot of people who don't have the money to upgrade. The university should be phasing out rather than doing it abruptly. I suggested going through 2001, when the last class that's here now is going to graduate."

Galin has an IBM laptop with a 100Mhz Pentium processor and nowhere near enough hard drive space, he said, adding that it would cost an estimated $1,000 to upgrade to the new standards.

Even if Just the Facts is the only service affected, "That's a huge one," Galin said. "Being able to register for courses and find out your grades is important, not just when you're on campus but when you're home over summers and on breaks."

Atherton questioned whether CIT would be able to create special versions of the software for older computers, because Project 2000 is already straining its resources.

"I think CIT and the students are on the same page here," Galin said. "Everyone in CIT that I've talked to has been very helpful. I think it's great that Cornell is moving ahead with new technology, but somebody's got to take on a financial burden here. Either the students are going to have to upgrade or the administration is going to have to support it."

"I understand their concerns," said Ann Stunden, director of the Academic Technology Services division of CIT, which oversees Bear Access policy, "and we were discussing this issue with the Technology Committee of the Student Assembly before this resolution came along."

Stunden said that the issue would be discussed when CIT holds its second annual Technology Forum Nov. 4. "This is a chance for us to hear from the student body what their concerns are and how we can address them," Stunden said. "I'm not going to say no we're not going to do it, and I'm not going to say yes, we are. We're looking forward to an opportunity to talk to more students about it then."

The Technology Forum is from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, in Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium of Goldwin Smith Hall. Several CIT staff members will be on hand to answer questions. Pizza will be served.

According to current CIT documents, the new COLTS II will go online in December 1998; after that time, any staff member who uses COLTS to report hours worked must use the new version. The new Just the Facts is scheduled to go online in January 2000. At that time activities such as checking grades and registering for classes will require the new clients.

Access to the new systems also will be available through public labs.