Kiosks, LCD screens to be added around campus

By: Stephanie Takach

Posted: 5/9/08

New InfoNET screens and kiosks will be added around campus as part of the Division of Student Life and Administrative Service's "Power of Ten" initiative, according to Rita LaRue, senior associate vice president for Business Services.

Three kiosks will be placed around campus: one in the Main Building, one in the Creese Student Center and one outside of the Rush Building on 33rd Street. Each of these areas is highly trafficked around campus, LaRue said.

According to James Katsaounis, executive director of communications and marketing for the division of Student Life and Administrative Services, the kiosks are primarily for students to know what is happening on and around campus.

"Part of this component is also the expansion of Drexel InfoNET LCD screens around campus," Katsaounis said. "Currently there are screens at the DAC, in the Main Building, in the Creese Student Center and in the Steinbright Career Development Center."

New InfoNET screens will be added in Ross Commons, the Bookmark Café, the Dining Center and the Main Building. The initiative will include replacing the broken screen on the first floor of Main Building, according to Katsaounis.

Not only will the screens be added to the University City campus, but also to the Hahnemann campus in the New College Building.

When the InfoNET screens were put in around main campus two years ago, the College of Nursing and Health Professions immediately said they wanted the screens and earmarked the money for it, according to David Ruth, dean of students and senior vice president for Student Life and Administrative Services.

"The screens will open up resources and allow more opportunities for all students," Ruth said. "We need to make a more conscious effort and make all of the students aware."

The College of Arts and Sciences and School of Education also helped co-fund the purchase and installation of the screens in Disque Hall and on the second floor of Korman, respectively.

"It has been a USGA initiative to get these partnerships," Katsaounis said.

The screens will not only help connect all of Drexel's campuses, but it will also get away from using mass amounts of paper that can be "messy," according to LaRue. She said the screens and kiosks should be up and running by the end of May.

All recognized student organizations and departments are eligible to submit events to be seen on the InfoNET screens and on the kiosks.

The idea for kiosks came originally from a staff suggestion by Grant DiLibero, although the concept has been changed a little from the original suggestion, according to LaRue.

DiLibero said the original idea was to put a banner between the armory and the corner of Lancaster Walk on 33rd Street to better promote events and make them the topics of conversation.

"Either way it will definitely get information distributed a lot better to people, especially in high trafficked areas," DiLibero said.

The next Power of Ten component is campus community, which will allow students to help with campus beautification and campus celebration.