21 Feb 05--Computer Installation and Committee Recommendation

21 February 2005 ~14:00hrs

Today I languish apart from my responsibilities due to the introspective hell brought about by the death of my favorite author and journalist, Hunter S. Thompson; he took his own life with a handgun blast to the head. Most would think that my reaction was extreme, but I’m finding it harder to find solace in the death of those I admire.

I was running behind for everything, and in a half-hurried rush I fell upon a note on Dr. Scolaro’s door referring me to the Learning Resources Center on Valencia’s West Campus. I found where I was supposed to be and examined the equipment intended for use at the Coalition: a Gateway computer with 133Mhz Pentium processor, 32 megs of RAM, with Windows 95 installed as its operating system. Due to the fact that Win95 operated on an NTCS disk format, and now we are on FAT32, I came to the conclusion that we would not be able to use the computer to its potential. Students would be unable to save files to a floppy-disk that they could keep with them. But it was decided to get the PC to the Coalition to see how well it fairs with the residence. If nothing else, the students will be able to word process their reports for class—which will serve to teach them an additional skill. Dr. Scolaro and I made a quick inventory to figure out what exactly we needed to make this work: 2 power cords, a keyboard and mouse, and a printer. We ‘acquired’ the cords and keyboard, and I remembered that I had an old printer that they could use.

Dr. Scolaro was very appreciative of my efforts to get a computer to the Coalition. To me it only made sense, if one of the principles hanging in the backdrop of the project was to get the Coalition residence acclimated to academia, we should try to give them as many tools as we can. Putting a computer within their reach will have a two-prong effect: first, it will help them to chisel-out college level writing assignments; secondly it will secretly teach them new skills—word processing and computer operation.

Dr. Scolaro them approached me with a question that has troubled me for awhile, “. . . so you are graduating at the end of this term? Then what?” I rattled off my options without committing to any of them and he asked me flat-out, “are you going to be here for the next year?” I told him that I would be here at least another year. Dr. Scolaro has something about him where he can make individuals actually *feel* the question he is asking them, “This may be a bit premature, but what do you think about being a member of the Advisory Committee for the Prometheus Project?” I was dumbfounded that I could be seen in that light, especially after viewing the biographies of the current members http://valenciacc.edu/clemente/AdvisoryCommittee.htm. Dr. Scolaro continued to explain to me that a shifting of members would take place in the near future, which could allot a position for me. He said he would present it to the board at the next meeting to measure their reaction.