Disconnected

No cable exposes lack of dorm goodies

Published 9/10/98

Abraham Lincoln had to educate himself by candlelight in a log cabin. Worse yet, he didn't have access to computers or the Internet. Nevertheless, he still acquired enough knowledge to become our nation's 16th president - and a rather good one at that.

So, given Honest Abe's humble beginnings, when dorm students at Point Park College complain about not having more luxurious rooms, one might think these students are ungrateful.

That is not the case.

Due to its lack of extracurricular activities, as compared with other local colleges and universities, Point Park attempts to put a positive spin on its city surroundings. This is effective to a point.

After class lets out, some adventure-mongers may want to explore the city of Pittsburgh, but others may well just want to kick off their shoes and watch a little television.

Unfortunately for the students who don't feel like taking a trip to Oakland or the South Side, the only free exercise option is the college recreation room, and the closest thing to music television is an occasional gospel performance on PBS.

It seems that Point Park's dorm students have made a bad choice, housing-wise, as these rooms lack amenities and even seem rather dirty, as if they weren't cleaned over the summer months.

The point? Although Point Park may have excellent professors and numerous connections, live-in students may be looking for something a little more enticing than an in-room shower to lure them into attending school here, much less make it their home.

OK. So bringing in a Taco Bell or building a swimming pool is out of the question for this small, private college. But at least, with this much-touted enrollment increase, the tuition increase and the resulting influx of dollars, something can be done to satisfy form students who pay thousands of dollars a year. Cable television is a staple on virtually all college campuses. A modern phone system with real (read: free) local calling capabilities and schoolwide computer network access is another, almost universal, feature of college dorms.

Furthermore, these things, which apparently must be within the college's financial reach due to the millions previously spent on the Carnegie Library Center, would serve as an asset to the college in luring prospective students. And, not to mention, it'd keep current students from the normal Point Park recreational activities like defacing property.

After all, if Lincoln had to pay more than $5,000 a semester for an environment similar to his log cabin, plus room and board, chances are he would have recited a speech a tad more vulgar than his Gettysburg Address.

Cartoon by Jamie Jones.

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