Channel 34

To the Editor:

In reference to your article in the May 5, 2005 issue of The Chronicle detailing complaints and/or observations about the Channel 34 movie service:

We would like to address some issues raised in that article. First, there have indeed been some technical malfunctions with the system. We are running a fully automated movie playback service, which, even in the outside broadcasting world, is not perfect. Second, this channel is not supervised on a 24-hour basis due to budgetary restrictions.

Third, in a fully automated system there are some things which will occasionally cause a malfunction such as dirty/defective discs, mechanical equipment errors, and the fact that is no standard for DVD automated playback. Our automation system is very sophisticated and our record for flawless service with this channel is near 100 percent, but it is not perfect.

Finally, we have been aware of these problems ourselves and, over the past several months, have aggressively implemented several improvements. We have dedicated Channel 34 to movies only, limiting access to the automation software and the machines used. We have added additional DVD machines for backup. As to the question of menus or blue screens being visible, this is not in fact a problem. Between movies, the DVD’s “rest” in either a menu screen or blue screen. This may be visible before or after a film.

Please know that we are working towards a 100 percent success rate with this channel; we ask for your understanding.

Sincerely,

Kunal SahniChannel 34

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Coke is Fine

To the Editor: If Coca-Cola has committed human rights violations, let the courts determine that. It’s not fair to convict them on the front page of the paper. Your paper has yet to report even a statement from the company regarding these accusations, which continue to appear on your pages. Besides, what are we going to do, switch to Pepsi? Then SAI or some other activist group will probably accuse them of the same things. When negotiations begin for a new beverage contract, those involved should do what’s best for the University. The only thing that can come from not including Coca-Cola in renegotiations is that the rest of the companies will not need to be as competitive. And that can only hurt us, the students.

Dave Brownstein

Sophomore Business Major