Students from the School of Computing have found their new home at the COM1 building lacking.

Since computing students began using COM1 this semester, they have generated much feedback regarding the poor reception for both mobile phones and wireless Internet access in the building. Some students also complain of a lack of space and electrical outlets.

Desmond Cheong, a third-year computing student, said, “The new compound is smaller than the old one, and it has terrible hand phone reception. Wireless Internet access is also poor and unstable.”

He added, “There aren’t enough tables with nearby electrical power sockets for everyone to do projects.”

Corine Lau, a fourth-year computing student, said the lack of mobile-phone reception makes it difficult for her to contact project group members.

“There is no reception for mobile devices. It is hard to locate group members, especially when project meetings are held at some open area in COM1,” Lau said

Yap Siang Yong, senior manager of administration at the School of Computing, said the school is aware of students’ complaints and is working to solve the problems.

“Students have feedback to us on IVLE, so we know about all the problems.”

Yap said the school has already informed the Office of Estate & Development and the three telephone companies about the mobile-phone reception problem, but it may take some time to solve.

“Process takes time,” Yap said. “Certain things need to go to different levels.”

Yap said the problem with wireless Internet reception is due to a new wireless system and can be solved by reconfiguring settings on the students’ laptops.

However, students such as Lim Yen Xin, a third-year computing student, did not know they needed to reconfigure their laptops.

“Really? I didn’t know about it.” Lim said. “I will take my laptop to the help desk later.”

On the lack of power plugs and tables, Yap said the school cannot anticipate needs too far in advance, and the school wants to spend money on things that students will use. Extension cords have since been put around COM1.

“We try not to put things (out for use) but ask what the students want,” Yap said. “We want a bottom-up approach.”

Yap said the lack of space and labs is only temporary. He said more space and labs will be available when the school takes over the BIZ1 business building.

Reactions to the school’s relocation have been mixed. Some students said they think the move is good, as the new location is nearer to arts and business buildings. 

“It is a good move. Taking cross-faculty modules is much easier now,” Lim said.

However, other students prefer the old compound at the Faculty of Science. Lau said the new building is lifeless and empty, feeling different from the warmth she felt in the old compound.

“I feel that we have lost our sense of identity. The ‘SOCians’ spirit that existed in SoC1, S15 and S16 are gone,” Lau said. “Now, it seems that we are having not-so-arts and not-so-business feeling, and it gives us no sense of attachment to the new building.”

Yap said students’ empty feeling is natural. He said it will take a while for people to get used to it and identify COM1 as theirs.

“The thing is, change always has resistance,” Yap said.

Though disliking some aspects of the new compound, Lau is optimistic. “Now, SOC is in the midst of the shifting phrase,” she said. “I think things will get better when the rest of SOC is together in the new cluster.”

The first phase of the move from S15 and S16 to Law and AS6 started in June and is expected to be completed by Sept. 26. The second and final phase of the move into BIZ1 is expected to be completed by 2010.