Levi Bulgar finally got his computers.

At the Apportionment Board meeting on Thursday night, the board approved $13,000 toward the purchase of 12 computers for the Student Life Office.

The motion passed 6-0-1.

Bulgar had initially asked for upwards of $17,000 for 16 new computers at the AB meeting on February 7.

Board member Eric Wilber asked Bulgar about the need for new computers, how many they were requesting and why each of the computers needed to cost more than $1,000.

Both Wilber and board member Travis Bounds were absent from Thursday’s meeting.

Bulgar said he requested fewer computers because the Interfraternal Council, the Pan-Hellenic Council, the National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Black Student Union are not AB-funded organizations, and bylaws prevented the board from approving money for their computers.

Each of the computers that Student Life will receive will have a 160GB hard drive and a 256MB graphics card.

Bulgar said graphics-intensive websites and software were the reason for his recommendation regarding the video cards. He wanted to point out that any software on the computers would be funded and provided by the school.

The computers will come with Windows XP pre-installed, but are Vista-compatible if the need to upgrade should arise, Bulgar said.

Purchasing Mac Minis for the office would cost more money, he said. Each Mac Mini costs $579, but compatible monitors alone would double the price of each computer, Bulgar said.

AB member Ashley Nolan abstained from voting on the proposal because she had not been present for the Feb. 7 meeting, at which Wilber had first objected to the amount of money requested.

Mitch Surprenant can be reached at 581-7942 or at msurprenant@eiu.edu.