This finals time, your residence hall room may not provide much of a study haven. Bringing GW into the technology age will require workmen to drill, hammer and pound at the same time students will be studying, writing and praying.

But the good news is that plans to rewire students’ rooms during finals have been shelved. Workers only will work in hallways. Good decision, but what a pain.

Wiring the halls definitely is a critical step to meeting the University’s technology goals – goals shaped in part by student advocacy. However, students must have a quiet study environment. What good are cable and Internet connections next semester if students do poorly on final exams this semester?

When the construction began, students were assured workmen would not do their thing during reading days and finals. This plan changed when it became obvious work was falling behind schedule.

Add into the equation GW’s housing lottery-time promise that if installation work was incomplete in the fall, students would not be charged for that semester’s cable/Internet bills. It’s amazing the speed at which work is done when GW risks losing profits.

So now students get to study under pressure – and under a barrage of noise in the hallways. Hope something good is on cable next semester to make up for all the noise and dust students will have endure while studying.