The College has placed a printer in the Choates Cluster in a continued attempt to provide some privileges to students who live in remote housing.
The newest printer is located in the basement of Little residence hall and has been up and running for about two weeks.
Director of Residential Operations Woody Eckels said the project is a "long-term investment" that will benefit Choates residents as well as reduce the strain on Kiewit's resources.
Printers have previously been placed on the extreme ends of campus, including the basement of McLane residence hall in the River Cluster and a room near Brace Commons in the East Wheelock Cluster. Kiewit Computation Center serves as the hub printer for the rest of campus.
The River Cluster has a small computer cluster alongside its printer, and Eckels said similar computing clusters will eventually accompany the laser writer printers in the Choates and the East Wheelock Cluster.
Eckels said cluster printing "mimics the operations of Kiewit, such as the alphabetizing of papers in folders once they are printed."
Anyone on campus can use the printers, but the hours for all cluster printing are 8:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Students are hired each term to staff the printers.
"It's a great resource," said James Sitar '01, one of the two students who staff the Choates printer. "It's quicker than Kiewit -- there's no wait."
Eckels said support for the printers originated from the Student Assembly and residents in the more removed housing clusters.
Students have already been using the printer quite frequently, Sitar said.
Quyen Tran '02 said, "Even though Kiewit is near us, this printer is closer and will definitely be useful come winter."
The installation of printers and computers to cater to students' needs has not been without cost.
Eckels said Kiewit subsidized the cost for the laser writers, toner and paper. The Office for Residential Life paid between $3,000 and $8,000 for room renovations, including ventilation, wiring and security.