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I wish to reply to Alice Walker's question about charging computer fees. I offe r it to the list because my remarks concern a broader question: *What are the consequences of charging student computer fees?* If anyone has a data-based answer, I'd like to know about it. The underlying issue is whether computing services are an entitled facility lik e library, restrooms, etc., that come with being a member of the school communi ty, or rather a special privelege, like health services and athletic facilities (at some schools), for which additional fees should be charged. I argue that th e former is best, basically because 1) computing services are increasingly esse ntial to all aspects of university operation, including communication; 2) it is not fair to charge some students a special fee for what all benefit from in ma ny (often hidden) ways; and 3) to impose a fee acts as an inhibitor to registra tion for nonrequired courses and to faculty use of computing resources in their teaching (since faculty need student registrants). Finally, I have yet to see a cogent argument for such a fee that both sets fort h a positive argument and refutes the above. Ted Mills <TMILLS@UCONNVM.UCONN.EDU>
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