Recently, the Bakersfield College staff has been suffering from a copier conundrum.
According to BC science professor Inez Devlin-Kelly, there have always been various printer problems, but this semester they have been “chronic.” The problem has even prevented her from getting handouts to her students and, on one occasion, curriculum papers for a meeting.
According to Devlin-Kelly, a technician from the copier company, the problem started about two years ago when the college decided that they would no longer support printers for the faculty.
Instead, they implemented the current system that would allow teachers to send print instructions from their computers to a main printer in the area.
This system would be effective, but, according to Devlin-Kelly, the copier would often jam.
“I went on my own and figured out digital addresses for other printers and programmed it into my computer,” said Devlin-Kelly, adding that she would usually make a copy of a document at the main printer, then take it to the copy center to have multiple copies made. “I couldn’t even make one copy to take to the print department.”
Devlin-Kelly admits that she could send her print order via e-mail to the copy center, but that process takes three or four days of advanced notice.
Devlin-Kelly realized that other teachers were having the same problem.
“That’s why I sent out the original e-mail requesting information,” she said.
The e-mail was sent to the faculty, and once Devlin-Kelly saw the response, she sent an e-mail to Academic Senate President John Gerhold and College Chair Andrea Garrison.
Garrison indicated that the problem had been fixed to her knowledge.
“I have not heard any response from the president other than to say that the copier in his department has been fixed,” said Devlin-Kelly. “I understand there is an effort going on to try to remedy the situation, and I’m waiting anxiously.”
So far the copier has been working, but Devlin-Kelly hopes that there will be a more permanent solution in the form of new copiers.