The Unicomp store at the Ohio Union closed yesterday, and the Tuttle Park Place store will be closing in the spring.

On Feb. 21, assistant managers were told the Unicomp stores would be closing, and the following day full time staff were notified, said Tim Baker, a senior in business and a student associate at Unicomp for almost a year and a half.

There was no official statement made to student associates, but they did receive a fax entitled “Unicomp Shut Down Plan.”

“Business has been slow for us because of budget cuts, but aside from that there was no advance warning,” Baker said.

According to the plan, the Tuttle location will be closed by the end of April.

After that time, no new computer or printer repair work will be accepted except Apple warranty work that can be completed in two days and immediate upgrades.

Bob Rashid, professor in the College of Dentistry, purchased his software for himself at Unicomp, and referred his students and other staff to the store.

He also used educationally priced statistical software for his courses.

“I can’t believe that the store did not ‘earn its keep’ through sales; are we really saving any money with this decision?” Rashid said.

He said he does think the decision is short-sighted.

“I was aware of no discussion or area for input leading up to this decision. That, alone, could be construed as giving little value to our mission, whether that is true or not,” Rashid said.

Tim Rhodus, professor in the horticulture and crop science department, said Unicomp offered value, convenience, location and personalized services that the campus will be lacking.

“I find it an incredible loss,” Rhodus said.

Programs offering steeply discounted software for faculty and departments were sold through the Unicomp stores. No alternative plans have been announced by the university for continuing the service.

“Technology is a very critical way in which we conduct our courses right now,” Rhodus said. “The university has a responsibility. They are not interested in service or the educational function, it appears, but the bottom line is the university making money.

“Unicomp was an educational service in addition to its retail activities.”

Rhodus participated in a focus group held last autumn. The focus group was asked about Unicomp’s strengths and what they could improve upon.

Rhodus said Unicomp made no mention to the group about the possibility of closing.

Rhodus said mostly software, repairs and maintenance are paid for with university grants or contracted funds.

Rhodus said he thinks Transportation and Parking Services contributed to the closing, due to the extremely high monthly rental fees.

“We were basically putting ourselves out of business,” he said.

Transportation and Parking Services could not be reached for comment.

After the recent privatization of campus bookstores to Barnes and Noble, Rhodus says he expects the same of Unicomp.

Unicomp has sent out a request for proposal to Gateway, Dell and other computer companies in hopes of renting the space, said Helen DeSantis, vice president of business operations.

The closing wasn’t a surprise, DeSantis said. Unicomp has been in serious financial trouble for about 18 months, she said.

“There will be no new orders, and we hope to offer special pricing to sell inventory down,” DeSantis said. She said a specific closing date had not been decided upon but would take place before the end of June.

Unicomp is setting up a link from the university Web site with further information about the closing.