New computer lab to benefit graphic design majors

by CynthiaTaura assistantcopy editor

A federal grant issued to Cabrini is going to fund the new computer lab in the Widener center for the increasing number of graphic design majors. The grant will cover the cost of 15 workstations with 21inch color monitors, a color laser printer and a graphic arts scanner.

According to Dr. Jerome Zurek, professor of English and communications, graphic design professor Don Dempsey is going to be teaching his classes in the lab.

Due to the order that the Apple computer company is putting in for a new brand of Mac computers, ad- ditional courses will be available once the computers come in, which will be in the next couple of weeks. This will also be beneficial to the 25 graphic design majors. However, there is a waiting list to get into these courses.

The reason for this change is because Dempsey could not always give his classes in the lab. He was only able to give classes once the lab was not in use, and the size of the lab also presented a conflict.

Hopefully, once the computers come in, the time and size conflict will be a thing of the past.

The computers are known as G3s. The Apple company wants to prove that they are not finished in

Friday Saturday Sunday the marketplace. Their markets are graphic design studios with a strong base in graphic design. The company also wants to prove that they are creating new and innovative products, despite past rumors that they were going out of business.

With 400-MHz, this new computer, styled after the popular IMAC series, is one of the fastest computers on the market. They also consist of extra-large monitors, measuring 21 inches. The larger monitor meets the demand for the graphic design software.

''They're designed specifically for graphic design to ensure true color reproduction," Dempsey said. "They're also designed to handle demands for graphic design software, and one specific feature of the software is that they demonstrate the use of software programs."

In other words, Dempsey can make sure that everyone has exactly what he has on his screen at the moment, or if one student is having trouble, just that one student's screen will have what Dempsey has on his screen.

The order has been placed, and the computers should be received by the end of the month. Sixteen computers have been ordered: 15 for the students and one for the pro- fessor.

The software has already been delivered and the hardware and furniture should be here by the end of the month as well.

Cabrini is one of the first schools in the area to order this new type of computer. There are other schools who are taking interest in it, though, so after a while, Cabrini will not be the only school with this new technology in its possession. The new lab, located in the classroom next to the radio station, has already been wired to handle the computers once they come in.

Dempsey hopes the lab will be broken in by the end of the semester.