The Skyliner

Media Credit: Ryan Stone

Media Credit: Ryan Stone

Media Credit: Ryan Stone

In today's society, whenever people have a problem, they generally look for someone else to fix it; whether it is with cars, cell phones, homes or computers. However, do we ever wonder what it's like for those who actually do fix our problems? What do they have to go through and take on in order to get those things fixed?

At North Greenville University, Computer Services is one of the critical services available on campus. From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. they are willing to do anything that may help whomever they can.

"Computer Services in itself is part of a facility, and we want to help facilitate other things," said Tim Patterson, system administrator of Computer Services.

The department is made up of students and staff that are committed to helping people with their problems, so that they can get what they need out of technology.

"No other Computer Services do what we do for students in the Upstate," said Patterson.

The Computer Services office is generally covered with staff that work hard to solve technical problems for all who are in need, much of the staff are workstudy students.

"We have 25 student workers who usually work from the time they come in until they leave out," said Patterson.

On the Computer Services staff, there are eight positions that can be filled at a time. For example, one person answers the phone, one person answers the door at the help desk and two handle faculty and staff computer issues.

"I started working here my first week of my first semester," said Adam Sawyer, freshman Christian studies.

Many of the students came in without any experience about computers, but soon begin to learn, not only about computers but how to develop great people skills as well.

"Although my job is basically answering the phones, I have learned a great deal of information about computers that will be useful to me my entire life," said Nisha Maharaj, sophomore broadcast media.
The remaining members are made up of five full-time staff. "It's not uncommon for me to work a 78-hour work week," said Patterson. "And some of the guys put in overtime as well."

Such hard work and dedication takes away family time from staff members such as Patterson. Though it seems like five days out of a week would be enough, there is now talk of even more time being put into the Computer Services program.

"We are thinking of starting an evening/weekend emergency time for students," said Patterson.

This will help students who have problems with their computers during late afternoons and weekends get assistance at times that have not been available in the past.

The Computer Services staff members are always putting forth their best effort to offer a pretty full range of help to students and faculty; therefore helping this campus maintain great technical support.

"We support about 2,500 machines here on campus," said Patterson.

About 30 percent of the technical work is brought to the office, while the rest is maintained elsewhere. This is why the staff members ask students to schedule times at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. everyday, in order to keep the work load and times pretty well balanced.

"Anything that's a technical need starts here," said Patterson.

"We don't think of it as fixing computers, we think about helping people with their problems," said Sawyer.

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