UMass now Microsoft's 'Information Technology Showcase School'
By Dan O'Brien, Collegian Staff
October 24, 2005
The Microsoft Corporation officially designated the University of Massachusetts' flagship campus in Amherst as its first "Information Technology Showcase School" in the United States on Friday during the grand opening of the W.E.B. DuBois Library's Learning Commons.
The new partnership means Microsoft has provided UMass with $11 million in support of campus initiatives. Currently, Microsoft and campus officials have agreed to collaborate on five ongoing initiatives: The Information Technology Program, which is designed as a minor degree for students; The IT Curriculum Case Studies, which holds two courses in the Isenberg School of Management that teach students how to use the Microsoft ConferenceXP videoconferencing program; The Learning Commons at the DuBois Library, the new 23,000 square-foot study space that was dedicated on Friday; Women in Technology Initiatives, which includes classes designed to help women into the technological sector; and the Center for Teaching, which is a technology learning center for students and faculty.
Two ceremonies were held at the DuBois Library on Friday morning. The first ceremony focused on the official announcement by Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer at 7:45 a.m. The second ceremony featured ribbon-cutting and speeches from faculty, which began at 10 a.m.
Ballmer had to leave campus early to attend other engagements. He reportedly flew out of the campus by a helicopter, which was stationed behind the Mullins Center.
Ballmer explained that part of the reason UMass was the first university chosen as a showcase school was because of its growing emphasis on new technology in education.
"[Information Technology] is an important part of the transformative shape of all fields," said Ballmer, pointing out the growing Information Technology minor at UMass.
The university picked this particular day to announce Microsoft's decision, because Friday was the grand opening of the DuBois Library's new "Learning Commons."
The new center holds 165 new computers, some of which include oversized monitors, in addition to 58 workstations.
During the second ceremony, Chief Information Officer at UMass, John Dubach pointed out that the new Learning Commons will not be a quiet study area.
"This is a place that should be active... noisy," Dubach said. "People looking for quiet can go upstairs."
During the same speech, Dubach announced that the library will soon be open 24 hours a day on weekdays.
The Faculty Advisor to the Provost for Undergraduate Education at UMass, Richard Rogers, said he has been "waiting 20 years" for the Learning Commons to open, since he began working for the university. He thanked the help of Microsoft for making the plans come to life.
"This is a facility [that] no one entity could build, but with a collaboration," Rogers said.
Dubach said one of the main functions of the Learning Commons is to help students filter through material to find relevant information to their studies.
"It's my concern that the students of today can sort through what's relevant," he said, explaining that while researching a subject recently, he found "12.2 million options" on Google.com.
"We need these librarians to help students figure out what's relevant and what's not relevant," he said.
"The students deserve [Learning Commons,]" said Jay Schafer, Director of Libraries at UMass.
Ballmer recognized some of the strides the University has made in order to incorporate technology and education.
"The OWL (Online Web-based Learning) thing you guys have done here is absolutely first class," Ballmer said. OWL is an online homework program that many UMass professors use in their classes.
As Ballmer gave his announcement, he was being simulcast via Videophone to people in Ireland, Washington, D.C. and Seattle.
"This is just happy times for us," said UMass Provost Charlena Seymour, who UMass Chancellor John Lombardi called the "Godmother of this project."
The grand opening and major announcement did not happen without any protest, however. Members of the UMass Linux group attended the 10 a.m. event, two in full costume, to protest the Microsoft and UMass partnership.
Unfortunately for the protestors, they missed the premiere event featuring Ballmer.
"We thought he was gonna be here at 10!" said Doug Ramstel, teaching advisor of Linux.
Ramstel and Linux President Kristian Hermansen dressed in giant penguin costumes in an attempt to draw attention to their cause.
"They're a monopolist company," said Ramstel of Microsoft.
"We think Microsoft is trying to build an alliance with the Massachusetts government," Hermansen said.
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Copyright Daniel O�Brien and the Massachusetts Daily Collegian. This article may not be redistributed without written permission under United States law.