System allows for online laundry tracking

A new initiative backed by the Student Center and the Residence Hall Association (RHA) in cooperation with MacGray Laundry Co., the company responsible for campus laundry machines, is trying to change laundry to make it more convenient for Tech students.

This initiative includes a new online laundry tracking service, new washers and a price increase.

The laundry tracking service, priced at approximately $10,000, will be an online tool aimed at allowing students to check the status of their laundry and how many minutes they have left on washers and dryers.

The system can also inform students of free washers and dryers, and be a source used to locate machines in need of maintenance repairs.

This service would also include options for students to be emailed or text messaged on their cell phones when their laundry is ready.

Some students feel this will help save time in a busy day.

" I think it would free up time while doing laundry so you could do other things, " said Meghan Quinlan, second-year Psychology major.

" Having the ability to check washer status online wouldn ' t completely take away the pain of doing laundry, but it would definitely be a step in the right direction, " said RHA President Andrew Howard.

Though the website will be external to the Tech network, traffic will still be run through it.

" Schools like MIT, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Polytechnic Institute, Columbia and various other tech-savvy schools all along the east coast are already using this laundry tracking service, " said David Fernandes, RHA vice president.

Because of positive feedback from these schools as well as Tech, this service is being pursued by RHA and the Student Center.

The initiative goes beyond the online tracking service.

Rich Steele, director of the Student Center, said he hopes to renovate laundry rooms as well as relieve areas of high-congestion.

" Many new and exciting ideas about laundry reformation are being discussed and a contract is being drawn up with MacGray Laundry Co., " he said.

The results of this new initiative are already being seen in the replacement of old top-loading machines with new front-loading machines.

" The new machines allow for a greater capacity and more efficiency, " Fernandes said.

Quinlan agreed. " I think the new machines are an improvement over old machines; they wash better, " she said.

Some students, however, disagree. " The new machines feel smaller, " said Jason Bennett, first-year Computer Science major.

" They ' re annoying. I now have to cram in clothes I used to fit in comfortably and slam the door quickly to prevent clothes from falling out, " he added.

In addition, the Brittain Rec, ULC, West Commons and Hopkins laundry rooms are scheduled to have BuzzCard Monitors installed so that all students may have access to laundry facilities.

Though the details of the laundry tracking service are not finalized and a contract is still on the drawing board, there is a high probability that it will be signed in upcoming weeks. If so, the changes will be effective starting Fall 2005.

A price increase in washing is also expected starting Fall 2005.

" Washing prices have been constant for the last seven years although Atlanta ' s water and sewer costs have experienced an approximately 30 to 40 percent increase, " Steele said.

The new price for washing during peak hours will be $1.25, up from $1 now. A discounted price of $1.00 will be offered from 4 a.m. to 12 noon on weekdays. Drying costs will remain constant.

Students have differing opinions about the online laundry service.

" It would make doing laundry very convenient, " said first-year Chemical Engineering major Melanie Dewitt.

However, not everyone was as supportive.

" I don ' t see the need for this expensive system. Whenever I go down there ' s always a free machine, " said Umehani Dalal, a first-year Electrical Engineering major.

Steele said he remains optimistic about the initiative and " looks to have all new machine in all facilities, improve the level of service for students and provide a better laundry experience all-around. "