Hard times, tough consequences

I don't envy University officials during this budget crisis. The bottom line is that funding is low and fiscal cuts have to be made. No matter what area this is in, there will be no shortage of people lining up to shout "foul!" Paradoxically, it is often the areas with the least vocal support that are most crucial for our University's continued smooth operation. Where oh were to begin?
Axing the computer labs will undoubtedly create problems - including many, many unhappy students. After all, it is clear to any student visiting Clemons Library on a weekday afternoon that these machines are highly-sought commodities. The same goes for computers in Thorton Hall and certainly other locations around Grounds as well. Since ITC claims a staggering 99% of incoming first- years have a laptop computer, I couldn't tell you exactly why these labs are so well-used. I can say that for me personally, printing problems are often the cause of my visit. Other students might just prefer leaving bulky computers back at their dorm or apartment. Also, my guess is that students with broken laptops are infinitely grateful for fully-functioning computer labs.
I forsee a lot of issues with discontinuing the option of public computers. Professors have the luxury of reducing the number of legitimate technology excuses they enterain from students; after all, the labs are always open and provdie free internet use and (fairly) inexpensive printing . Students like me can also take comfort in knowing they have a backup option for printing or getting work done, albeit a slightly inconvenient one. The vanishing of ITC labs will surely add to the anxiety of plenty of people.
That said, we're in understandably frugral times. My gut reaction to this policy proposal is that there must be sometime more expendable. Removing public computers seems like a permanent move, not a temporary tightening of the belt. While the federal government could use this lesson long-term financial prudencry, I'm not convcined ITC must do the same. Aren't there other student services that could be scaled down or even eliminated in the short run? Perhaps not - ITC's already made a number of structural changes in recent times. If ITC and the University truly believe that public computing is the most dispensable option available to them, I feel compelled to support that decision. I'd rather be forced to use my friend's printer than to see someone lose a job.