CIT
Points Out Inaccurate Article On College Network
To
the Editors:
Sadly, I must take pen in hand to respond to the article found in
the Sept. 21 issue of the Review, entitled Network Continues
to Upgrade. I have been in the computer field most of my adult
life, over 20 years, and could not have made up an article so full
of inaccuracies and non-facts. Since I was the one interviewed for
the article, I feel I must respond, lest anyone seriously think
I actually provided any of the misinformation contained therein.
My boss was approached via e-mail message by the author asking for
an opportunity to interview him about the school server.
Since he was out of town, he replied that she should contact me
about an interview. I replied to her and stated I would be pleased
to meet with her, and we set up a meeting.
Upon meeting with this very pleasant journalist, it became apparent
that she was eager to write the article assigned to her, yet she
was not well-versed in computer technology. I endeavored to explain
things fully, writing and drawing on my whiteboard to help present
the facts, and following up with a copy of the CIT article on bandwidth-shaping
from our web site.
It is apparent from the end result, the actual article, that the
interviewer was completely overwhelmed by the technical aspects
of the information provided. While some of the responsibility is
hers for writing an article for which, as she must have known, she
was not sufficiently knowledgeable, it appears that the main fault
must be with the Review assignment process and editors. From what
I understand, the assignment was presented to the author without
many details. Thus, an important, technically-oriented topic was
assigned to a non-technically oriented individual, and apparently,
no editing or review was done on the article to ensure its accuracy.
To say I am disappointed is to mildly reflect my position. I can
get quite animated about what we do in the Center for Information
Technology. We strive to provide excellent information technology
resources for all faculty, staff and student. I was pleased
for an opportunity to describe how were trying to keep our
network functioning at peak performance levels. The result, instead,
is an article that is filled with misinformation. The line Originally,
the College computer server had two super-computers called T1s
really helps to define the article. Anyone with any computer knowledge
would know the error of the information provided.
I hope you will print the real facts regarding our computing environment.
I would also hope that you review your assignment and editing procedures
in order to present a credible newspaper, worthy of our bright and
engaged Oberlin students and the accompanying academic and administrative
community.
Cynthia A. Murnan
Director of Client Services, CIT
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