More Coke and computers

Every April, students find themselves sleep-deprived and overdosed on caffeine as they rush to finish an endless string of final projects. In the past, students worked these 24-hour days in every imaginable location. But this year something is different. Now we have the Information Commons -- a single facility in which students can collectively produce any conceivable type of project.\nWithout a doubt, this one-stop, work-until-you-wilt megaplex of technology is the best use of $1.5 million we have seen in a long time. In today's digital age, it is imperative for students to have access to every piece of hard and software on the market. \n Press releases boasted the IC would be the center of student activity on campus. In the past nine months, students met and exceeded those expectations. In fact, the IC became so popular it is now rare to find an empty workstation at any hour of the day.\n The Indiana Daily Student would like to propose an annexation in order to alleviate the shortage. The third floor of the west tower (directly above the IC) is reserved entirely for silent study. This large area is currently full of bare tables and empty chairs. Indeed, an incidental survey Sunday afternoon found a single person utilizing the space while multitudes of students vied for workstations downstairs.\nThis space would not need the fancy hardware found on the first floor. Instead, additional computers would free the multimedia and group stations for the people who need them.\nThankfully, the Main Library can do this without harming patrons who wish to study in peace. The silent reading tables that edge each floor of the research stacks provide more than enough room for these displaced users.\nPart of the brilliance of the Information Commons is it not only allows students to do whatever they want, but it also conforms to their uniquely-skewed timetable. Unlike some other 24-hour labs on campus, the IC does not deceptively close its front door at 10 p.m. The crowds of people that percolate throughout the 250 computers at 4 a.m. testify to the desperate need on this campus for all-night access.\nBut students need a continuous intake of junk food and soda in order to continue typing as the birds begin chirping. In a devastating oversight, the janitorial staff at the Main Library places the downstairs vending machines under lock and key every night at the witching hour. The IDS requests these machines follow suit with the IC and remain open all night, as well.\nThe sheer volume of traffic speaks to the overwhelming success of the Information Commons. And, now that we've tasted the possibilities, we want more. Give us more Coke and more computers -- we will use them.