Today our esteemed Ohio University Board of Trustees will consider a proposal that, depending on their decision, could dramatically affect every student on this campus as well as those fortunate enough to grace this university with their presence in the future. Our esteemed trustees will consider a proposal to make it mandatory for next year's freshmen to have their own personal computer.

As I sit here at my own computer and type this letter I realize how insane this proposal is. Not only is this wonderful computer a great resource at my fingertips 24 hours a day, but it also is a heavy burden on my finances. Like many students I had to take out some sort of loan or lease program in order to pay for this very expensive piece of educational equipment.

More than half of the students surveyed by the Information Resource Council said a computer would add an additional financial burden to an already expensive college education. By requiring a computer for incoming freshmen the university is eliminating many intelligent students who, while they wish to benefit from this university's excellent faculty in hopes they can be educated and prepared for the real world, are disheartened by the additional financial burden our university requires for them to attend.

Maybe the university figures that by making a computer requirement they can eliminate students who can not afford a computer and increase their profit by only admitting the more wealthy students who can afford a computer. I trust this is not the case though, and that our university, who always thinks of what is best for the students' well-being first, will consider the facts presented by the IRC.

Another point is that some incoming students have majors that rarely required the use of a computer. Except to either check their e-mail or write a paper once or twice a quarter, this required computer would be more of a potential distraction then a benefit to such students. I hope our trustees will consider the facts presented by the IRC and the opinion of the students who they are supposed to be serving in making their decision.

Shawn Ford
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