As technology progresses, more items are going digital. This includes the majority of college students’ homework.
Files are stored on laptops or desktops for the majority of students as most of their time is spent on the computer.
Buying a laptop seemed like the practical choice for going to college, but Luke Galloway opted not.
“I started college without a computer because I didn’t have money for one,” Galloway said. “So I decided not to go that much more in debt.”
He didn’t take out any loans his freshman year of college and put money towards tuition instead.
“It worked great not having a computer freshman year so I just kept going with it, just saving money,” Galloway said, now a sophomore.
Galloway keeps busy during the week this semester. He is involved in track and is participating in RUSH.
“I’m taking 18 credits this semester and that includes two labs” Galloway said. “I would say I’m very busy.”
With his busy schedule, Galloway still manages to get homework done without a laptop.
“I usually use up dead time in between classes,” he said. “I can sit down for an hour and do a little homework then so that helps a lot. Otherwise, it’s just some late nights.”
For other students, the lack of a computer is not a choice.
Nathan Wheeler attended the Spring Service Project to Jonsboro, Ark. last year where most of the group had personal belongings stolen. Including Wheeler’s laptop.
“My initial reaction was, ‘Shoot, all my files and documents I worked for classes were all gone,’” Wheeler said. “I didn’t back them up on another device and maybe I should have.”
Wheeler was frustrated by knowing he worked hard on the assignments and now they were all gone.
The circulation desk in the Learning Commons let the people who had their laptops stolen borrow old laptops and keep them for their own use until they had their own.
“You can only check out a laptop for three hours,” Abby Saign said, “Usually, when I work there is about two or three consistent people who check out a laptop.”
Due to the small amount of people who check laptops out through the circulation desk, Saign thinks there are very few people on campus who don’t have a laptop.