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From: ren@icase.UUCP (Bob Noonan)
Newsgroups: net.college
Subject: Re: Free and undirected campus computing facilities
Message-ID: <125@icase.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 4-Dec-84 16:06:21 EST
Article-I.D.: icase.125
Posted: Tue Dec  4 16:06:21 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 01:37:56 EST
References: <457@utcsrgv.UUCP> <649@watdcsu.UUCP> <425@watcgl.UUCP> <> <420@ncoast.UUCP> <420@wlcrjs.UUCP> <1386@umcp-cs.UUCP>
Organization: ICASE, NASA Langley, Hampton, VA
Lines: 41

At the College of William and Mary, we have three computer systems,
of which two are free and unrestricted.  These systems are: an NAS 6650
(IBM 370-compatible), a PR1ME system, and a PC system.

The NAS system runs MVS (ugh!) and is used by the administration,
and some academic users.  Students must have a faculty sponsor to get
an account.  Most academic use is by the number-crunchers and users of
the SAS statistical package.

The primary academic system consists of 3 PR1ME computers: a 750 (read
VAX 780), an 850 (VAX 782), and a 9950 (2.5 * VAX 780).  All three are
networked together and run under PRIMOS, which is similar to UNIX, but
without pipes.  Some features of PRIMOS are superior to UNIX (networking,
for example) and others are inferior.  All students are given an account
and are encouraged to use it for any worthwhile educational goal.  Since
we are a state university (Virginia), some activities are clearly 
forbidden.  

Hacking is OK; the sources of the OS, most utilities, and many programs
are publically available.  Many worthwile programs have come about from
student hackers, e.g., our first screen editor was started by an 
undergraduate student (we now also have emacs).

The third "system" consists of personal computers, mostly Apple IIe's.
This system is also unrestricted.

As with most universities our major problem is growth.  We have gone from
15 terminals in 1981 to 150 public-access terminals and another 150
department terminals, plus who-knows how many private terminals on
dialup lines.  We seem to be chewing up a Prime 750 per year in growth,
yet there seems to be no backing away from the free and unrestricted
access policy.  Last year I had the misfortune to head the College's
Computer Policy and Planning Committee, which includes administrators,
faculty, and students.  W&M has about 4400 undergrads and 2200 grads,
is a liberal arts school (no engineering), and is the 2nd oldest college
in the nation.

I would be interested in hearing about other schools.

				Bob Noonan (on leave at ICASE, NASA Langley)
				...!icase!ren    or   ren@icase