LSC installs new flat screen televisions

4/17/08

By Amanda Wozniak
Critic Staff

Upon entering the ATT lobby you are greeted by a new 65-inch flat panel display. The cost of the screen was $7,876.

“It seems like a big waste of money to me,” LSC senior Tim Welsh said. An LSC Junior agreed, “I think that the televisions and banners are a waste of the student’s money to make the school look nicer,” Kyle St. John said.

A fund established by donors to the college paid approximately $2,800. Wayne Hamilton Dean of Administration explained that this fund is to “allow the president to supplement college funds to make improvements to the LSC campus.” The remaining balance, about $5,000, was paid by the college equipment fund.

“I think the money could have been better used within the departments,” Meghan Cosby said, also an LSC senior.

The ATT lobby is used as a reception and gathering area for many events throughout the year. The large screen will provide a place for them to display presentations. It will provide students and other groups, using the ATT lobby, with education and entertainment, Hamilton said.

Hamilton explained the larger screen is beneficial because it will allow a larger audience to view it at one time. It will also be used as an information kiosk just as the smaller one had. “We hope it will be utilized by student groups, faculty, and staff as well as some of the community groups that use our facilities throughout the year,” Hamilton said.

A new Sony flat panel LCD HD television has also replaced the old TV in the Student Center. The cost was about $2,500. The TV was paid for by the SGA out of the General Fund. The money in the General Fund is part of the $94 Student Activity Fee that each student pays. Half of that money goes to the Campus Activities Board; the rest is divided up between the clubs allowing whatever is left over to go into the General Fund.

The decision to purchase the new TV was voted on at a House meeting. There were 22 votes in favor of the TV, only two opposed. Money was also passed to purchase an HD receiver for the TV.

SGA President Jonathan Maciel said, “The student government has always purchased the TV for the Student Center.” He added that the TV it replaced “was 8 years old.” Although the TV still worked, the buttons on the TV were illegible and didn’t work well, said Maciel. The screen was also starting to fade in the corners. The SGA plans to donate the old television to the St. Johnsbury Children’s Center.

The TV screen in the Student Center is a 52-inch, 13-inches (measured horizontally) less than the one in the ATT lobby. “I like the idea of the new TV’s but they need to switch them,” LSC Junior Eric Sevelovitz.